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FARADAYS   LIFE   AND   LETTEES. 


VOL.  II. 


T.ONDOH:  PHINTED  BY 

SVOTTISWOODB    AKD    CO.,    HEW-STKE 


THE 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS 


OF 


A   B   A   D    A   Y. 


DR.  BENCE  JONES, 

IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 
VOL.  II. 

SECOND    EDITION,    REVISED. 


LONDON : 
LONGMANS,    GKEEN,    AND    CO. 

1870. 


Tfte  right  of  translation  i*  reserved. 


Physics 
Library 


T2T7 


v. 


CONTENTS 


THE       SECOND      VOLUME. 


CHAPTER    I. 
1831-1840.     To  JEr.  49. 

PAGE 

FIRST  PERIOD  OF  ELECTRICAL  RESEARCH — DISCOVERY  OF  MAGNETO- 
ELECTRICITY — INDUCTION  CURRENTS  AND  DEFINITE  ELECTRICAL 
DECOMPOSITION 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

1841-1844.     To  JET.  53. 

REST   BETWEEN   THE   PERIODS   OF   HIS    EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES 

— SWISS   JOURNAL — 'NATURE   OF   MATTER*  .  .  .  .126 

CHAPTER   III. 

1844-1855.     To  JET.  64. 

LATER  PERIOD  OF  ELECTRICAL  RESEARCH — DISCOVERY  OF  THE 
'MAGNETISATION  OF  LIGHT' — THE  MAGNETIC  STATE  OF  ALL 
MATTER— ATMOSPHERIC  MAGNETISM  .  .  ,  193 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1856-1867.     To  MT.  75. 

HAMPTON   COURT — USE    OF   THE  ELECTRIC   LIGHT   IN    LIGHTHOUSES 

— DECLINE  AND   END   OF   LIFE .      366 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTEATIONS. 

THE  LABORATORY Frontispiece 

THE   STTJDY  AT   THE  ROYAL    INSTITUTION    ....  Page       1 

THE  HAMPTON  COURT  HOUSE  WHERE  FARADAY  DIED         .       .       393 
FARADAY'S  TOMB  IN  HIGHGATE  CEMETERY  479 


LIFE    OF    FAKADAY. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

FIRST   PERIOD   OF   ELECTRICAL    RESEARCH DISCOVERY    OF    MAG- 
NETO-ELECTRICITY    INDUCTION      CURRENTS       AND       DEFINITE 

ELECTRICAL    DECOMPOSITION. 

IT  will  be  the  object  of  this  chapter  first  to  describe      1831. 
the  great   scientific  work  which  Faraday  did  at  this  JET. 39-40*. 
period  ;  secondly,  by  means  of  his  titles  and  the  letters 
which  he  received,  to  show  the  reputation  he  obtained 
in  consequence  of  his  discoveries  ;  and  thirdly,  as  far  as 
possible  by  means  of  his  own  letters,  to  give  a  picture 
of  the  character  which  he  made  and  kept  during  the  time 
of  his  great  success. 

I. 

On  August  29,  1831,  Faraday  began  his  '  Electrical 
Eesearches.' 

In  December  1824  he  believed  with  all  his  energy 
that  as  voltaic  electricity  powerfully  affects  a  magnet, 
so  the  magnet  ought  to  exert  a  reaction  upon  the 
electric  current.  Guided  by  this  idea,  he  made  an  ex- 
periment, of  which  one  part  (the  passage  of  a  magnet 
through  a  metallic  helix  connected  with  a  galvanometer), 
if  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  experiment,  would  then 
have  made  the  great  discovery  of  magneto-electricity. 

VOL.  II.  B 


LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1831.     This  experiment  he  published  in  the  'Quarterly  Journal 
S^J.  of  Science,'  July  1825,  p.  338. 

In  November  1825,  also,  he  had  failed  to  discover 
voltaic  induction.  He  passed  a  current  through  one 
wire,  which  was  lying  close  to  another  wire,  which 
communicated  with  a  galvanometer,  and  found  '  no 
result.'  The  momentary  existence  of  the  phenomena 
of  induction  then  escaped  him. 

Again,  December  2,  1825,  and  April  22,  1828,  he 
made  experiments  which  gave  '  no  result.'  These  ex- 
periments were  not  published. 

The  good  time  was  now  come.     The  first  paragraph 
in  the  laboratory  note-book  is,  '  Experiments  on  the 
production  of  electricity  from  magnetism.'      His  first 
experiment,  detailed  in  the  second  paragraph,  records 
the  discovery  by  which  he  will  be  for  ever  known. 
*  I  have   had  an  iron  ring  made    (soft  iron),  iron 
round  and  Jths  of  an  inch 
thick,  and  ring  six  inches  in 
external  diameter.     Wound 
many  coils  of  copper  round, 
one  half  of  the  coils  being 
separated  by  twine  and  ca- 
lico ;  there  were  three  lengths 
of  wire,  each  about  twenty- 
four  feet  long,  and  they  could 
be  connected  as  one  length, 

or  used  as  separate  lengths.  By  trials  with  a  trough 
each  was  insulated  from  the  other.  Will  call  this  side 
of  the  ring  A.  On  the  other  side,  but  separated  by 
an  interval,  was  wound  wire  in  two  pieces,  together 
amounting  to  about  sixty  feet  in  length,  the  direction 
being  as  with  the  former  coils.  This  side  call  B. 


THE    FIRST  PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES. 

'  Charged  a  battery  of  ten  pairs  of  plates  four  inches      1831. 
square.  ^  Made  the  coil  on  B  side  one  coil,  and  con-  XMM 
nected  its  extremities  by  a  copper  wire  passing  to  a 
distance,  and  just  over  a  magnetic  needle  (three  feet 
from  wire  ring),  then  connected  the  ends  of  one  of  the 
pieces  on  A  side  with  battery  :  immediately  a  sensible 
effect  on  needle.     It  oscillated  and  settled  at  last  in 
original  position.  On  breaking  connection  of  A  side  with 
battery,  again  a  disturbance  of  the  needle.' 

In  the  17th  paragraph,  written  on  the  30th  of  August, 
he  says,  '  May  not  these  transient  effects  be  connected 
with  causes  of  difference  between  power  of  metals  at 
rest  and  in  motion  in  Arago's  experiments  ? ' 

After  this  he  prepared  fresh  apparatus.  Writing  to 
his  friend  E.  Phillips,  September  23,  he  says,  '  I  am 
busy  just  now  again  on  electro-magnetism,  and  think  I 
have  got  hold  of  a  good  thing,  but  can't  say.  It  may 
be  a  weed  instead  of  a  fish  that,  after  all  my  labour,  I 
may  at  last  pull  up.' 

September  24  was  the  third  day  of  his  experiments. 
He  began  paragraph  21  by  trying  to  find  the  effect  of 
one  helix  of  wire,  carrying  the  voltaic  current  of  ten 
pairs  of  plates,  upon  another  wire  connected  with  a  gal- 
vanometer. 'No  induction  sensible.'  Paragraph  22. 
Longer  and  different  metallic  helices  showed  no  effect, 
so  he  gave  up  those  experiments  for  that  day,  and  tried 
the  effect  of  bar  magnets  instead  of  the  ring  magnet  he 
had  used  on  the  first  day. 

In  paragraph  33  he  says,  'An  iron  cylinder  had  a 
helix  wound  on  it.  The  ends  of  the  wires  of  the  helix 
were  connected  with  the  indicating  helix  at  a  distance 
by  copper  wire.  Then  the  iron  placed  between  the  poles 
of  bar  magnets  as  in  accompanying  figure.  Every  time 


LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 


the  magnetic  contact  at  N  or  s  was  made  or  broken,  there 
was  magnetic  motion  at  the  indicating  helix — the  effect 
being,  as  in  former  cases,  not  permanent,  but  a  mere 
momentary   push   or    pull.      But    if   the 
electric  communication  (i.e.  by  the  copper 
wire)  was  broken,  then  the  disjunction  and 
contacts    produced    no    effect    whatever. 
Hence  here    distinct  conversion  of  mag- 
netism into  electricity.' 

The  fourth  day  of  work  was  October  1. 
Paragraphs  36,  37,  and  38  describe  the 
discovery  of  induced  voltaic  currents. 

*  36.  A  battery  of  ten  troughs,  each  of 
ten   pairs   of  plates   four    inches   square, 
charged  with  good  mixture  of  sulphuric 
and  nitric  acid,  and  the  following  experiments  made 
with  it  in  the  following  order. 

'  37.  One  of  the  coils  (of  a  helix  of  copper  wire  203 
feet  long)  was  connected  with  the  flat  helix,  and  the 
other  (coil  of  same  length  round  same  block  of  wood) 
with  the  poles  of  the  battery  (it  having  been  found 
that  there  was  no  metallic  contact  between  the  two) ; 
the  magnetic  needle  at  the  indicating  flat  helix  was 
affected,  but  so  little  as  to  be  hardly  sensible. 

4  38.  In  place  of  the  indicating  helix,  our  galvano- 
meter was  used,  and  then  a  sudden  jerk  was  perceived 
when  the  battery  communication  was  made  and  broken, 
but  it  was  so  slight  as  to  be  scarcely  visible.  It  was 
one  way  when  made,  the  other  when  broken,  and  the 
needle  took  up  its  natural  position  at  intermediate 
times. 

*  Hence  there  is  an  inducing  effect  without  the  pre- 
sence of  iron,  but  it  is  either  veiy  weak  or  else  so 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES. 

sudden  as  not  to  have  time  to  move  the  needle, 
rather  suspect  it  is  the  latter.' 

The  fifth  day  of  experiment  was  October  17.  Pa- 
ragraph 57  describes  the  discovery  of  the  production 
of  electricity  by  the  approximation  of  a  magnet  to  a 
wire. 

'  A  cylindrical  bar  magnet  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  eight  inches  and  a  half  in  length,  had  one 
end  just  inserted  into  the  end  of  the  helix  cylinder 
(220  feet  long)  ;  then  it  was  quickly  thrust  in  the  whole 
length,  and  the  galvanometer  needle  moved ;  then 
pulled  out,  and  again  the  needle  moved,  but  in  the 
opposite  direction.  This  effect  was  repeated  every  time 
the  magnet  was  put  in  or  out,  and  therefore  a  wave  of 
electricity  was  so  produced  from  mere  approximation 
of  a  magnet,  and  not  from  its  formation  in  situ.' 

The  ninth  day  of  his  experiments  was  October  28, 
and  this  day  he  '  made  a  copper  disc  turn  round  be- 
tween the  poles  of  the  great  horse-shoe  magnet  of  the 
Eoyal  Society.  The  axis  and  edge  of  the  disc  were 
connected  with  a  galvanometer.  The  needle  moved  as 
the  disc  turned.'  The  next  day  that  he  made  experi- 
ments, November  4,  he  found  '  that  a  copper  wire  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  drawn  between  the  poles  and  con- 
ductors produced  the  effect.'  In  his  paper,  when 
describing  the  experiment,  he  speaks  of  the  metal 
cutting  the  magnetic  curves,  and  in  a  note  to  his 
paper  he  says,  '  By  magnetic  curves  I  -mean  lines 
of  magnetic  forces  which  would  be  depicted  by  iron 
filings.' 

This  is  the  germ  of  those  '  lines  of  force '  which 
rose  up  in  the  mind  of  Faraday  into  '  physical '  and 
almost  tangible  matter.  The  influence  which  they  had 


LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

upon  his  thoughts  and  experiments  will  be  seen  from 
this  time  up  to  the  date  of  the  last  researches  which  he 
sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society  in  1860. 

In  ten  days  of  experiment  these  splendid  results 
were  obtained.  He  collected  the  facts  into  the  first  series 
of '  Experimental  Eesearches  in  Electricity.'  It  was  read, 
November  24th,  at  the  Eoyal  Society.  Then  he  went 
to  Brighton,  and  from  thence,  November  29th,  he  sends 
an  abstract  of  this  paper  in  a  letter  to  his  friend  E. 
Phillips. 

FAEADAY   TO   PHILLIPS. 

1  Brighton  :  November  20,  1831. 

*  Dear  Phillips, — For  once  in  my  life  I  am  able  to 
sit  down  and  write  to  you  without  feeling  that  my  time 
is  so  little  that  my  letter  must  of  necessity  be  a  short 
one  ;  and  accordingly  I  have  taken  an  extra  large  sheet 
of  paper,  intending  to  fill  it  with  news.  And  yet,  as 
to  news,  I  have  none,  for  I  withdraw  more  and 
more  from  society,  and  all  I  have  to  say  is  about 
myself. 

'  But  how  are  you  getting  on  ?  Are  you  comfort- 
able ?  And  how  does  Mrs.  Phillips  do ;  and  the  girls  ? 
Bad  correspondent  as  I  am,  I  think  you  owe  me  a 
letter  ;  and  as  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  you  will  be 
doubly  in  my  debt,  pray  write  us,  and  let  us  know  all 
about  you.  Mrs.  Faraday  wishes  me  not  to  forget  to 
put  her  kind  remembrances  to  you  and  Mrs.  Phillips 
in  my  letter. 

'To-morrow  is  St.  Andrew's  day,1  but  we  shall  be 
here  until  Thursday.  I  have  made  arrangements  to  be 

1  The  day  of  election  of  the  new  Council  of  the  Royal  Society. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   FIRST   PERIOD  OF   HIS   RESEARCHES. 

out  of  the  Council,  and  care  little  for  the  rest,  although  1831. 
I  should,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity,  have  liked  to  see  the  ^E^o 
Duke  in  the  chair  on  such  an  occasion. 

'  We  are  here  to  refresh.  I  have  been  working  and 
writing  a  paper  that  always  knocks  me  up  in  health, 
but  now  I  feel  well  again,  and  able  to  pursue  my 
subject ;  and  now  I  will  tell  you  what  it  is  about.  The 
title  will  be,  I  think,  "Experimental  Eesearches  in 
Electricity:  " — I.  On  the  Induction  of  Electric  Currents ; 

II.  On  the  Evolution  of  Electricity  from  Magnetism  ; 

III.  On  a  new  Electrical  Condition  of  Matter  ;  IV.  On 
Arago's  Magnetic  Phenomena.     There  is  a  bill  of  fare 
for  you  ;  and,  what  is  more,  I  hope  it  will  not  disappoint 
you.     Now  the  pith  of  all  this  I  must  give  you  very 
briefly ;  the  demonstrations  you  shall  have  in  the  paper 
when  printed. 

'  I.  When  an  electric  current  is  passed  through  one 
of  two  parallel  wires,  it  causes  at  first  a  current  in  the 
same  direction  through  the  other,  but  this  induced 
current  does  not  last  a  moment,  notwithstanding  the 
inducing  current  (from  the  voltaic  battery)  is  continued  ; 
all  seems  unchanged,  except  that  the  principal  current 
continues  its  course.  But  when  the  current  is  stopped, 
then  a  return  current  occurs  in  the  wire  under  induc- 
tion, of  about  the  same  intensity  and  momentary  dura- 
tion, but  in  the  opposite  direction  to  that  first  formed 
Electricity  in  currents  therefore  exerts  an  inductive 
action  like  ordinary  electricity,  but  subject  to  peculiar 
laws.  The  effects  are  a  current  in  the  same  direction 
when  the  induction  is  established ;  a  reverse  current 
when  the  induction  ceases,  and  a  peculiar  state  in  the 
interim.  Common  electricity  probably  does  the  same 
thing ;  but  as  it  is  at  present  impossible  to  separate  the 


LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

beginning  and  the  end  of  a  spark  or  discharge  from  each 
other,  all  the  effects  are  simultaneous  arid  neutralise 
each  other. 

'  II.  Then  I  found  that  magnets  would  induce  just 
like  voltaic  currents,  and  by  bringing  helices  and  wires 
and  jackets  up  to  the  poles  of  magnets,  electrical  cur- 
rents were  produced  in  them  ;  these  currents  being 
able  to  deflect  the  galvanometer,  or  to  make,  by  means 
of  the  helix,  magnetic  needles,  or  in  one  case  even  to 
give  a  spark.  Hence  the  evolution  of  electricity  from 
magnetism.  The  currents  were  not  permanent.  They 
ceased  the  moment  the  wires  ceased  to  approach  the 
magnet,  because  the  new  and  apparently  quiescent 
state  was  assumed,  just  as  in  the  case  of  the  induction 
of  currents.  But  when  the  magnet  was  removed,  and 
its  induction  therefore  ceased,  the  return  currents  ap- 
peared as  before.  These  two  kinds  of  induction  I  have 
distinguished  by  the  terms  volta-electric  and  magneto- 
electric  induction.  Their  identity  of  action  and  results 
is,  I  think,  a  very  powerful  proof  of  M.  Ampere's  the- 
ory of  magnetism. 

'  III.  The  new  electrical  condition  which  intervenes 
by  induction  between  the  beginning  and  end  of  the 
inducing  current  gives  rise  to  some  very  curious  results. 
It  explains  why  chemical  action  or  other  results  of 
electricity  have  never  been  as  yet  obtained  in  trials 
with  the  magnet.  In  fact,  the  currents  have  no  sensible 
duration.  I  believe  it  will  explain  perfectly  the  trans- 
ference of  elements  between  the  poles  of  the  pile  in 
decomposition.  But  this  part  of  the  subject  I  have 
reserved  until  the  present  experiments  are  completed  ; 
and  it  is  so  analogous,  in  some  of  its  effects,  to  those  of 
Eitter's  secondary  piles,  De  la  Eive  and  Van  Beck's 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   FIRST   PERIOD  OP   HIS   RESEARCHES. 

peculiar  properties  of  the  poles  of  a  voltaic  pile,  that  I     1831. 
should  not  wonder  if  they  all  proved  ultimately  to    MT.  40. 
depend  on  this  state.     The  condition  of  matter  I  have 
dignified  by  the  term  Electrotonic,  THE  ELECTROTONIC 
STATE.    What  do  you  think  of  that  ?    Am  I  not  a  bold 
man,  ignorant  as  I  am,  to  coin  words  ?  but  I  have  con- 
sulted the  scholars.     And  now  for  IV. 

'  IV.  The  new  state  has  enabled  me  to  make  out  and 
explain  all  Arago's  phenomena  of  the  rotating  magnet  or 
copper  plate,  I  believe,  perfectly  ;  but  as  great  names 
are  concerned  (Arago,  Babbage,  Herschel,  &c.),  and  as 
I  have  to  differ  from  them,  I  have  spoken  with  that 
modesty  which  you  so  well  know  you  and  I  and  John 
Frost }  have  in  common,  and  for  which  the  world  so 
justly  commends  us.  I  am  even  half  afraid  to  tell  you 
what  it  is.  You  will  think  I  am  hoaxing  you,  or  else  in 
your  compassion  you  may  conclude  I  am  deceiving 
myself.  However,  you  need  do  neither,  but  had  better 
laugh,  as  I  did  most  heartily  when  I  found  that  it  was 
neither  attraction  nor  repulsion,  but  just  one  of  my 
old  rotations  in  a  new  form.  I  cannot  explain  to  you 
all  the  actions,  which  are  very  curious ;  but  in  con- 
sequence of  the  electrotonic  state  being  assumed  and 
lost  as  the  parts  of  the  plate  whirl  under  the  pole,  and 
in  consequence  of  magneto-electric  induction,  currents 
of  electricity  are  formed  in  the  direction  of  the  radii ; 
continuing,  for  simple  reasons,  as  long  as  the  motion 
continues,  but  ceasing  when  that  ceases.  Hence  the 
wonder  is  explained  that  the  metal  has  powers  on  the 
magnet  when  moving,  but  not  when  at  rest.  Hence  is 
also  explained  the  effect  which  Arago  observed,  and 

1  A  pushing  acquaintance,  who,  without  claim  of  any  kind,  got  himself 
presented  at  Court. 


10  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1831.  which  made  him  contradict  Babbage  and  Herschel,  and 
^T^oT  say  the  power  was  repulsive  ;  but,  as  a  whole,  it  is 
really  tangential.  It  is  quite  comfortable  to  me  to  find 
that  experiment  need  not  quail  before  mathematics,  but 
is  quite  competent  to  rival  it  in  discovery ;  and  I  am 
amazed  to  find  that  what  the  high  mathematicians  have 
announced  as  the  essential  condition  to  the  rotation — 
namely,  that  time  is  required — has  so  little  foundation, 
that  if  the  time  could  by  possibility  be  anticipated 
instead  of  being  required — i.e.  if  the  currents  could  be 
formed  before  the  magnet  came  over  the  place  instead 
of  after — the  effect  would  equally  ensue.  Adieu,  dear 
Phillips. 

'  Excuse  this  egotistical  letter  from  yours  very  faith- 
fully, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

On  December  5,  1831,  Faraday  was  again  at  work 
in  continuation  of  his  researches. 

For  three  days  he  at  first  occupied  himself  with  more 
precise  observations  on  the  directions  of  the  induced 
currents;  and  ou  December  14,  paragraph  217,  he 
'  tried  the  effects  of  terrestrial  magnetism  in  evolving 
electricity.  Obtained  beautiful  results.' 

4  The  helix  had  the  soft  iron  cylinder  (freed  from  mag- 
netism by  a  full  red  heat  and  cooling  slowly)  put  into 
it,  and  it  was  then  connected  with  the  galvanometer 
by  wires  eight  feet  long ;  then  inverted  the  bar  and  helix, 
and  immediately  the  needle  moved ;  inverted  it  again, 
the  needle  moved  back;  and,  by  repeating  the  motion 
with  the  oscillations  of  the  needle,  made  the  latter 
vibrate  180°,  or  more.' 

The  same  day  he  '  made  Arago's  experiment  with 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OP   HIS  EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES. 


11 


the  earth  magnet,  only  no  magnet  used,  but  the  plate 
put  horizontal  and  rotated.  The  effect  at  the  needle 
was  slight,  but  very  distinct.' 


Paragraph  227. — 'Hence  Arago's  plate,  a  new  elec- 
trical machine.'  On  four  other  days  of  December  he 
experimented  on  terrestrial  magneto-electric  induction, 
and  on  voltaic  electric  induction. 

In  January  he  experimented  on  the  currents  produced 
by  the  earth's  rotation — on  the  10th  at  the  lake  in  the 
gardens  of  Kensington  Palace,  and  on  the  12th  and 
13th  at  Waterloo  Bridge. 

February   8.    Paragraph   423  says,  'This    evening, 
at  Woolwich,  experimented  with  magnet,1  and  for  the 
first  time  got  the  magnetic 
spark  myself.      Connected 
ends  of  a  helix  into  two 
general     ends,     and    then 
crossed  the  wires  in  such  a 
way   that    a   blow   at   a  b 
would  open  them  a  little. 

Then  bringing  a  b  against  the  poles  of  a  magnet,  the 
ends  were  disjoined,  and  bright  sparks  resulted. 

1  The  great  magnet  of  the  Royal  Society  was  at  this  time  at  Mr.  Christie's. 


12  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1831.         February  9th. — 'Athorne  succeeded  beautifully  with 
JET.  40.    Mr.  Daniell's  magnet.     Amalgamation  of  wires   very 
needful.     This  is  a  natural  loadstone,  and  perhaps  the 
first  used  for  the  spark.' 

These,  and  many  other  experiments  which  he  made 
in  December  and  January,  he  sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society, 
and  his  paper  on  terrestrial  magneto-electric  induction, 
and  on  the  force  and  direction  of  magneto-electric 
induction  generally,  was  read  as  the  Bakerian  lecture, 
January  12,  1832.  . 

Professor  Tyndall  gives  the  following  excellent  con- 
densation of  this  second  paper  : — 

4  He  placed  a  bar  of  iron  in  a  coil  of  wire,  and  lifting 
the  bar  into  the  direction  of  the  dipping  needle,  he  ex- 
cited by  this  action  a  current  in  the  coil.  On  reversing 
the  bar,  a  current  in  the  opposite  direction  rushed 
through  the  wire.  The  same  effect  was  produced,  when, 
on  holding  the  helix  in  the  line  of  dip,  a  bar  of  iron  was 
thrust  into  it.  Here,  however,  the  earth  acted  on  the 
coil  through  the  intermediation  of  the  bar  of  iron.  He 
abandoned  the  bar,  and  simply  set  a  copper-plate  spin- 
ning in  a  horizontal  plane ;  he  knew  that  the  earth's 
lines  of  magnetic  force  then  crossed  the  plate  at  an 
angle  of  about  70°.  When  the  plate  spun  round,  the 
lines  of  force  were  intersected  and  induced  currents 
generated,  which  produced  their  proper  effect  when 
carried  from  the  plate  to  the  galvanometer.  "  When  the 
plate  was  in  the  magnetic  meridian,  or  in  any  other 
plane  coinciding  with  the  magnetic  dip,  then  its  rotation 
produced  no  effect  upon  the  galvanometer." 

'  At  the  suggestion  of  a  mind  fruitful  in  suggestions  of 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  13 

a  profound  and  philosophic  character — I  mean  that  of  1831. 
Sir  John  Herschel — Mr.  Barlow,  of  Woolwich,  had  ex-  JST.  40. 
perimented  with  a  rotating  iron  shell.  Mr.  Christie  had 
also  performed  an  elaborate  series  of  experiments  on  a 
rotating  iron  disc.  Both  of  them  had  found  that  when 
in  rotation  the  body  exercised  a  peculiar  action  upon  the 
magnetic  needle,  deflecting  it  in  a  manner  which  was 
not  observed  during  quiescence ;  but  neither  of  them  was 
aware  at  the  time  of  the  agent  which  produced  this  ex- 
traordinary deflection.  They  ascribed  it  to  some  change 
in  the  magnetism  of  the  iron  shell  and  disc. 

'  But  Faraday  at  once  saw  that  his  induced  currents 
must  come  into  play  here,  and  he  immediately  obtained 
them  from  an  iron  disc.  With  a  hollow  brass  ball, 
moreover,  he  produced  the  effects  obtained  by  Mr. 
Barlow.  Iron  was  in  no  way  necessary :  the  only  con- 
dition of  success  was  that  the  rotating  body  should  be 
of  a  character  to  admit  of  the  formation  of  currents  in 
its  substance :  it  must,  in  other  words,  be  a  conductor 
of  electricity.  The  higher  the  conducting  power,  the 
more  copious  were  the  currents.  He  now  passes  from 
his  little  brass  globe  to  the  globe  of  the  earth.  He 
plays  like  a  magician  with  the  earth's  magnetism.  He 
sees  the  invisible  lines  along  which  its  magnetic  action 
is  exerted,  and,  sweeping  his  wand  across  these  lines,  he 
evokes  this  new  power.  Placing  a  simple  loop  of  wire 
round  a  magnetic  needle,  he  bends  its  upper  portion  to 
the  west:  the  north  pole  of  the  needle  immediately 
swerves  to  the  east :  he  bends  his  loop  to  the  east,  and 
the  north  pole  moves  to  the  west.  Suspending  a  common 
bar  magnet  in  a  vertical  position,  he  causes  it  to  spin 
round  its  own  axis.  Its  pole  being  connected  with  one 
end  of  a  galvanometer  wire,  and  its  equator  with  the 


14  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1831.  other  end,  electricity  rushes  round  the  galvanometer 
^T.'  40.  from  the  rotating  magnet.  He  remarks  upon  the  "  sin- 
gular independence  "  of  the  magnetism  and  the  body  of 
the  magnet  which  carries  it.  The  steel  behaves  as  if 
it  were  isolated  from  its  own  magnetism. 

4  And  then  his  thoughts  suddenly  widen,  and  he  asks 
himself  whether  the  rotating  earth  does  not  generate 
induced  currents  as  it  turns  round  its  axis  from  west  to 
east.  In  his  experiment  with  the  twirling  magnet  the 
galvanometer  wire  remained  at  rest;  one  portion  of 
the  circuit  was  in  motion  relatively  to  another  portion. 
But  in  the  case  of  the  twirling  planet  the  galvanometer 
wire  would  necessarily  be  carried  along  with  the  earth  ; 
there  would  be  no  relative  motion.  What  must  be  the 
consequence  ?  Take  the  case  of  a  telegraph  wire  with 
its  two  terminal  plates  dipped  into  the  earth,  and  sup- 
pose the  wire  to  lie  in  the  magnetic  meridian.  The 
ground  underneath  the  wire  is  influenced,  like  the  wire 
itself,  by  the  earth's  rotation ;  if  a  current  from  south  to 
north  be  generated  in  the  wire,  a  similar  current  from 
south  to  north  would  be  generated  in  the  earth  under 
the  wire :  these  currents  would  run  against  the  same 
terminal  plate,  and  thus  neutralise  each  other. 

'  This  inference  appears  inevitable,  but  his  profound 
vision  perceived  its  possible  invalidity.  He  saw  that  it 
was  at  least  possible  that  the  difference  of  conducting 
power  between  the  earth  and  the  wire  might  give  one 
an  advantage  over  the  other,  and  that  thus  a  residual  or 
differential  current  might  be  obtained.  He  combined 
wires  of  different  materials,  and  caused  them  to  act  in 
opposition  to  each  other,  but  found  the  combination 
ineffectual.  The  more  copious  flow  in  the  better  con- 
ductor was  exactly  counterbalanced  by  the  resistance  of 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  15 

the  worst.  Still,  though  experiment  was  thus  emphatic,  1831. 
he  would  clear  his  mind  of  all  discomfort  by  operating  ^.39-40. 
on  the  earth  itself.  He  went  to  the  round  lake  near 
Kensington  Palace,  and  stretched  480  feet  of  copper 
wire,  north  and  south,  over  the  lake,  causing  plates 
soldered  to  the  wire  at  its  ends  to  dip  into  the  water. 
The  copper  wire  was  severed  at  the  middle,  and  the 
severed  ends  connected  with  a  galvanometer.  No  effect 
whatever  was  observed.  But  though  quiescent  water 
gave  no  effect,  moving  water  might.  He  therefore 
worked  at  Waterloo  Bridge  for  three  days,  during  the 
ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide,  but  without  any  satisfactory 
result.  Still  he  urges,  "  Theoretically  it  seems  a  neces- 
sary consequence,  that  where  water  is  flowing  there 
electric  currents  should  be  formed.  If  a  line  be 
imagined  passing  from  Dover  to  Calais  through  the  sea 
and  returning  through  the  land,  beneath  the  water,  to 
Dover,  it  traces  out  a  circuit  of  conducting  matter,  one 
part  of  which,  when  the  water  moves  up  or  down  the 
channel,  is  cutting  the  magnetic  curves  of  the  earth, 
whilst  the  other  is  relatively  at  rest.  .  .  .  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  currents  do  run  in  the  general 
direction  of  the  circuit  described,  either  one  way  or  the 
other,  according  as  the  passage  of  the  waters  is  up  or 
down  the  Channel."  This  was  written  before  the  sub- 
marine cable  was  thought  of,  and  he  once  informed  me 
that  actual  observation  upon  that  cable  had  been  found 
to  be  in  accordance  with  his  theoretic  deduction.' 

In  addition  to  this  noble  work,  which  placed  him 
among  the  first  philosophers,  other  work  was  done. 
Dr.  Tyndall  says  : — 

'In  1831  Faraday  published  a  paper  "On  a  peculiar 
class  of  Optical  Deceptions,"  to  which  I  believe  the  beau- 


16  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1831.  tiful  optical  toy  called  the  chromatrope  owes  its  origin. 
^ET.39-40.  In  the  same  year  he  published  a  paper  in  the  "  Philoso- 
phical Transactions,"  "  On  Vibrating  Surfaces,"  in  which 
he  solved  an  acoustical  problem  which,  though  of  ex- 
treme simplicity  when  solved,  appears  to  have  baffled 
many  eminent  men.  The  problem  was  to  account  for 
the  fact  that  light  bodies,  such  as  the  seed  of  lycopo- 
dium,  collected  at  the  vibrating  parts  of  sounding  plates, 
while  sand  ran  to  the  nodal  lines.  Faraday  showed 
that  the  light  bodies  were  entangled  in  the  little  whirl- 
winds formed  in  the  air  over  the  places  of  vibration, 
and  through  which  the  heavier  sand  was  readily  pro- 
jected.' 

He  had  also  a  paper  in  the  'Eoyal  Institution 
Journal,'  '  On  the  Limits  of  Vaporisation.'  After  Easter 
he  gave  four  afternoon  lectures  on  optical  deceptions, 
lithography,  flowing  sand,  and  caoutchouc  ;  and  during 
the  season  he  took  five  Friday  evenings  for  his  dis- 
courses. One  of  these  was  on  oxalamide,  lately  dis- 
covered by  M.  Dumas.  His  notes  run  thus  : — '  Is  an 
artificial  substance,  yet  approaching  to  organic  matter. 
Wood  distilled,  acid — isinglass  distilled,  alkali ;  hence 
the  interest.  Not  one  to  think  that  by  battery  and 
retort  we  may  make  mind  and  body,  but  still  feel 
free  to  observe  effects,  as  far  as  we  can  trace  them.' 
The  other  lectures  were  on  a  peculiar  class  of  optical  de- 
ceptions ;  on  light  and  phosphorescence  ;  on  Trevelyan's 
recent  experiments,  on  the  production  of  sound  during 
the  conduction  of  heat ;  and  on  the  arrangements  as- 
sumed by  particles  upon  vibrating  elastic  surfaces. 


THE  FIRST    PERIOD    OF    HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  17 


II. 

The  only  title  he  received  this  year  was  that  of 
honorary  member  of  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Sciences, 
St.  Petersburg. 

III. 

The  sensitiveness  of  his  character,  when  a  misin- 
terpretation was  given  to  his  words,  appears  in  a  letter 
which  he  wrote  to  M.  Gay-Lussac,  regarding  the  first 
and  second  series  of  '  Experimental  Researches.'  The 
circumstances  were  these  : — 

Three  weeks  after  Faraday's  first  paper  was  read  at 
the  Royal  Society,  he  wrote  a  '  short '  and  '  hasty  '  and 
'  unfortunate '  letter  to  M.  Hachette,  who  communi- 
cated it  a  week  afterwards  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences, 
Paris,  on  December  26.  Two  days  afterwards,  the 
account  was  printed  in  *  Le  Temps.'  M.  Nobili  saw 
this,  and,  with  M.  Antinori,  he  immediately  '  considered 
the  subject  was  given  to  the  philosophical  world  for 
general  pursuit.'  Their  results  were  dated  January  31, 
1832,  and  they  were  published  in  the  'Antologia,' 
which  was  dated  November  1831.  Of  this  Faraday 
said,  '  The  circumstance  of  back  date  has  caused  many 
here  who  have  heard  of  Nobili's  experiments  by  report 
only,  to  imagine  his  results  were  anterior  to,  instead  of 
being  dependent  upon  mine.' 

Faraday's  second  paper  was  read,  January  12,  1832. 
Nobili  and  Antinori  wrote  a  second  memoir,  dated 
March  1832.  In  the  'Philosophical  Magazine'  for 
June  1832,  Faraday  published  a  translation  of  Nobili's 

VOL.  n.  c 


1831. 

^Ex.39-40. 


18  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1831.  first  memoir,  with  notes,  and  later  in  the  year  he 
JET.'  40.  wrote  a  long  letter  to  M.  Gay-Lussac,  on  Nobili  and 
Antinori's  errors  in  magneto-electric  induction.  In 
this  letter  he  says,  '  These  philosophers  unfortunately 
had  no  other  knowledge  of  my  researches  than  the 
short  letter  which  I  wrote  to  M.  Hachette,  and  not 
being  careful  to  refer  to  my  papers  (though  it  appears 
to  me  they  should  have  done  so,  under  the  circum- 
stances), they  have  mistaken  altogether  the  sense  of 
a  phrase  relating  to  the  beautiful  observations  of  M. 
Arago  ;  they  have  presumed  that  I  had  not  previously 
done  that  which  they  thought  they  had  done  them- 
selves ;  and  finally,  they  advance  what  appears  to  me 
to  be  erroneous  ideas  of  magneto-electric  currents, 
and  give  their  ideas  as  corrections  of  mine,  which  had 
not  as  yet  come  under  their  eyes. 

'  First,  let  me  rectify  that  which  I  consider  as  the 
most  serious  error,  the  misinterpretation  given  to  my 
words ;  for  those  committed  in  the  experiments  would 
have  been  easily  removed  in  the  course  of  time. 

'  M.  Nobili  says :  "  He  (Faraday)  then  (ten  years 
ago)  recognised,  as  the  notice  says,  that  by  the  rotation 
of  a  metallic  disc,  under  the  influence  of  a  magnet,  we 
may  produce  electric  currents  in  the  direction  of  the 
radii  of  the  disc,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  make  this 
disc  become  a  new  electric  machine."  Now  I  never  said 
that  which  is  here  imputed  to  me.  I  said  "  the  extra- 
ordinary effect  discovered  by  M.  Arago  was  connected 
in  its  nature  with  the  electro-magnetic  rotation,  which 
I  had  discovered  several  years  before."  I  never  said, 
and  never  had  the  intention  of  saying,  that  I  "  had  dis- 
covered that  which  M.  Arago  discovered."  I  have  the 
most  earnest  desire  to  have  this  error  removed,  for  I 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  19 

have   always  admired  the   prudence  and  philosophic      1831. 
reserve  shown  by  M.  Arago,  in  resisting  the  temptation    JET.  40. 
to  give  a  theory  of  the  effect  he  had   discovered,  so 
long  as  he  could  not  devise  one  which  was  perfect  in 
its  application,  and  in  refusing  his  assent  to  the  im- 
perfect theories  of  others.' 

Faraday  then  continues  :  '  These  philosophers  say, 
"We  have  recently  verified,  extended,  and  perhaps 
rectified  in  some  parts,  the  results  of  the  English  phi- 
losopher." With  the  greatest  desire  to  be  corrected 
when  in  error,  it  is  still  impossible  for  me  to  discover 
in  the  writings  of  these  gentlemen  any  correction  by 
which  I  can  profit/  And  then  at  great  length  he 
examines  and  compares  their  results  with  his  own,  and 
concludes  thus : — 

'  I  cannot  terminate  this  letter  without  again  express- 
ing the  regret  I  feel  in  having  been  obliged  to  write  it. 
But  if  it  be  remembered  that  the  memoirs  of  the 
Italian  philosophers  were  written  and  published  after 
my  original  papers,  that  their  last  writing  has  ap- 
peared in  the  same  number  of  the  "  Annales  de  Chimie 
et  de  Physique "  with  mine ;  and  that,  consequently, 
they  have  the  appearance  of  carrying  science  beyond 
that  which  I  had  myself  done ;  that  both  their  papers 
accuse  me  of  errors  in  experiment  and  theory,  and, 
beyond  that,  of  good  faith;  that  the  last  of  these 
writings  bears  the  date  of  March,  and  has  not  been 
followed  by  any  correction  or  retractation  on  the  part 
of  the  authors,  though  we  are  now  in  December ;  and 
that  I  sent  them,  several  months  ago,  copies  of  my 
original  papers,  and  also  copies  of  notes  on  a  transla- 
tion of  their  first  paper ;  and  if  it  be  remembered  that, 


20  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1832-34.  after  all,  I  have  none  of  those  errors  to  answer  for 
yT2T.4o-43.  with  which  they  reproach  me,  and  that  the  memoirs  of 
these  gentlemen  are  so  worded,  that  I  was  constrained 
to  reply  to  the  objections  they  made  against  me ;  I 
hope  that  no  person  will  say  that  I  have  been  too 
hasty  to  write  that  which  might  have  been  avoided ; 
or  that  I  should  have  shown  my  respect  for  the  truth, 
or  rendered  justice  to  my  own  writings,  and  this  branch 
of  science,  if,  knowing  of  such  important  errors,  I  had 
not  pointed  them  out. 

4 1  am,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  faithfully, 

'  M.  FARADAY/ 

The  records  of  1832-33-34  that  now  remain,  show 
the  vast  amount,  and  the  high  importance  of  the 
work  which  Faraday  did.  But  they  show  very  little 
of  the  reputation  which  he  gained,  and  still  less  of  his 
nature. 


It  will  be  well  to  divide  his  work  into  that  which  he 
did  for  the  Eoyal  Society ;  that  which  he  did  for  the 
Eoyal  Institution;  and  that  which  he  published  else- 
where. 

The  third  series  of  '  Experimental  Eesearches  in  Elec- 
tricity '  was  on  the  identity  of  electricities  derived  from 
different  sources,  and  on  the  relation  by  measure  of 
common  and  voltaic  electricity. 

August  25th,  1832,  he  began  his  experiments.  He 
soon  proved  that  ordinary  (frictional)  electricity  affects 
the  galvanometer. 

August  30th,  31st,  September  1st  and  3rd,  he 
worked  on  the  chemical  decompositions  produced  by 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  21 

the  common  frictional  electrical  current.     On  the  latter      1832. 
clay  he  writes  in  his  note-hook,  '  As  identity  of  common   "J&TVL' 
and  voltaic  electricity  is  proved,  we  may  reason  from 
the  former,  when  intense,  as  to  the  manner  of  action  of 
the  latter.' 

He  then  goes  to  experiments  on  voltaic  decomposi- 
tion, which  ultimately  formed  part  of  the  fifth  series 
of  researches ;  and  as  early  as  September  8  he  made 
an  experiment  on  chemical  decomposition  without  any 
poles. 

September  14th,  he  experiments  on  the  effect  of  ten- 
sion :  '  The  number  of  Leyden  jars  (8  and  15)  charged, 
measured  the  tension  and  the  number  of  turns  of  the 
plate  machine,  the  quantity  of  the  electricity.' 

He  then  made  a  standard  voltaic  arrangement  of 
platina  and  zinc  wire  -^th  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and 
a  standard  acid  of  one  drop  of  sulphuric  acid  in  four 
ounces  of  water ;  and  then  he  compares  the  voltaic 
action  with  the  action  of  the  plate  machine  on  the 
galvanometer.  And  September  15  he  works  on  chemi- 
cal decomposition,  and  ends  thus :  '  Hence  it  would 
appear  that  both  in  magnetic  deflection  and  in  chemical 
effect  the  current  of  the  standard  voltaic  battery  for 
eight  beats  of  the  watch  was  equal  to  the  electricity  of 
thirty  turns  of  the  machine,  and  that  therefore  common 
and  voltaic  electricity  are  alike  in  all  respects.' 

The  paper  in  which  his  own  facts  and  all  he  could 
collect  elsewhere  on  the  subject  are  contained,  was  sent 
to  theEoyal  Society  December  15,  and  was  read  on  the 
10th  and  17th  of  January.  At  the  conclusion  he  says, 
'  The  extension  which  the  present  investigations  have 
enabled  me  to  make,  of  the  facts  and  views  constitu- 
ting the  theory  of  electro-chemical  decomposition,  will, 


22  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1832.     with  some  other  points  of  electrical  doctrine,  be  almost 
*^ET.'  4i/   immediately  submitted  to  the  Eoyal  Society  in  another 
series  of  these  researches. 

The  excellent  summary  which  Dr.  Tyndall  has  made 
of  the  relation  by  measure  of  common  and  voltaic  elec- 
tricity must  be  mentioned  here  : — 

'After  he  had  proved  to  his  own  satisfaction  the 
identity  of  electricities,  he  tried  to  compare  them 
quantitatively  together.  The  terms  quantity  and  in- 
tensity, which  Faraday  constantly  used,  need  a  word  of 
explanation  here.  He  might  charge  a  single  Leyden 
jar  by  twenty  turns  of  his  machine,  or  he  might  charge 
a  battery  of  ten  jars  by  the  same  number  of  turns. 
The  quantity  in  both  cases  would  be  sensibly  the  same, 
but  the  intensity  of  the  single  jar  would  be  the  greatest, 
for  here  the  electricity  would  be  less  diffused.  Faraday 
first  satisfied  himself  that  the  needle  of  his  galvano- 
meter was  caused  to  swing  through  the  same  arc  by 
the  same  quantity  of  machine  electricity,  whether  it 
was  condensed  in  a  small  battery  or  diffused  over  a 
large  one.  Thus  the  electricity  developed  by  thirty 
turns  of  his  machine  produced,  under  very  variable  con- 
ditions of  battery  surface,  the  same  deflection.  Hence 
he  inferred  the  possibility  of  comparing,  as  regards 
quantity,  electricities  which  differ  greatly  from  each 
other  in  intensity. 

'His  object  now  is  to  compare  frictional  with  voltaic 
electricity.  Moistening  bibulous  paper  with  the  iodide 
of  potassium — a  favourite  test  of  his — and  subjecting 
it  to  the  action  of  machine  electricity,  he  decomposed 
the  iodide,  and  formed  a  brown  spot  where  the  iodine 
was  liberated.  Then  he  immersed  two  wires,  one  of 
zinc,  the  other  of  platinum,  each  T^th  of  an  inch  in 


THE    F1KST   PERIOD    OF    HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  23 

diameter,  to  a  depth  of  |-ths  of  an  inch  in  acidulated  1832. 
water  during  eight  beats  of  his  watch,  or  -^ths  of  a  "  JET.  i\~ 
second  ;  and  found  that  the  needle  of  nis  galvanometer 
swung  through  the  same  arc,  and  coloured  his  moistened 
paper  to  the  same  extent,  as  thirty  turns  of  his  large 
electrical  machine.  Twenty-eight  turns  of  the  machine 
produced  an  effect  distinctly  less  than  that  produced 
by  his  two  wires.  Now,  the  quantity  of  water  decom- 
posed by  the  wires  in  this  experiment  totally  eluded 
observation  ;  it  was  immeasurably  small ;  and  still  that 
amount  of  decomposition  involved  the  development  of 
a  quantity  of  electric  force  which,  if  applied  in  a 
proper  form,  would  kill  a  rat,  and  no  man  would  like 
to  bear  it. 

'  In  his  subsequent  researches  "  on  the  absolute  quan- 
tity of  electricity  associated  with  the  particles  or  atoms 
of  matter,"  he  endeavours  to  give  an  idea  of  the  amount 
of  electrical  force  involved  in  the  decomposition  of  a 
single  grain  of  water.  He  is  almost  afraid  to  mention 
it,  for  he  estimates  it  at  800,000  discharges  of  his  large 
Leyden  batteiy.  This,  if  concentrated  in  a  single  dis- 
charge, would  be  equal  to  a  very  great  flash  of  light- 
ning ;  while  the  chemical  action  of  a  single  grain  of 
water  on  four  grains  of  zinc  would  yield  electricity 
equal  in  quantity  to  a  powerful  thunderstorm.  Thus 
his  mind  rises  from  the  minute  to  the  vast,  expand- 
ing involuntarily  from  the  smallest  laboratory  fact  till 
it  embraces  the  largest  and  grandest  natural  pheno- 
mena.' 

The  fourth  series  of  researches  was  on  a  new  law  of 
electric  conduction  and  on  conducting  power  generally. 
It  was  received  at  the  Eoyal  Society  April  24. 

December   24th,  1832,   Faraday  says  in  his  note- 


24  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1833.  book,  '  Can  an  electric  current,  voltaic  or  not,  -decom- 
"lEhTnT  pose  a  solid  body — ice,  &c.  ?  If  it  cannot,  what  would 
frozen  gum,  lac,  wax,  &c.  ? ' 

January  23,  1833,  he  begins  his  experiments  on  ice. 
The  ice  was  not  quite  dry,  and  so  the  needle  was  de- 
flected. On  the  24th  he  says,  *  Made  some  excellent 
experiments  on  ice — quite  dry;  at  10°,  or  perhaps 
under;  not  the  slightest  deflection  of  the  needle  oc- 
curred.' On  the  26th,  '  If  ice  will  not  conduct,  is  it 
because  it  cannot  decompose  ?  ' 

His  paper  begins  thus  : — '  I  was  working  with  ice, 
when  I  was  suddenly  stopped  by  finding  that  ice  was  a 
non-conductor  of  electricity.' 

In  a  manuscript  note  to  this  paper,  Faraday  says  : — 
'"Franklin's  Experiments  on  Electricity,"  4to,  5th  edi- 
tion, 1774,  p.  36  :  "A  dry  cake  of  ice  or  an  icicle 
held  between  two  (persons)  in  a  circle  likewise  prevents 
the  shock,  which  one  would  not  expect,  as  water  con- 
ducts it  so  perfectly  well."  ' 

February  14th  he  began  to  experiment  '  on  sub- 
stances solid  at  common  temperatures,  but  fusible,  and 
of  such  composition  as  was  presumed  would  supply  the 
place  of  or  act  like  water.' 

Next  he  took  nitre  :  '  Whilst  nitre  was  solid  it  did  not 
conduct,  i.e.  no  current  passed  through  it  affecting  the 
galvanometer  ;  on  melting  the  nitre,  and  then  putting 
the  negative  pole  on  the  galvanometer,  the  needle  was 
knocked  round,  as  if  the  metals  had  touched  through 
the  nitre,  and  strong  decomposing  action  took  place. 
On  allowing  temperature  to  fall,  the  moment  nitre 
solidified,  the  current  through  it  ceased,  yet  negative 
wire  was  actually  imbedded  and  cemented  in  the  nitre.' 

*  Hence,'  he  says,  '  nitre  is  exactly  like  water  :  whilst 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF    HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  2o 

solid  it  is  a  non-conductor,  and  when  fluid  a  conductor     1833. 
and  decomposed ;  and  therefore  water  has  no  peculiar    EX.  41. 
distinction,  or  action,  or  any  exclusive  power,  in  voltaic 
chemical  decomposition. 

February  15th  he  thus  enters  his  new  law  : — '  This 
general  assumption  of  insulating  powers,  so  soon  as 
fluid  matter  becomes  solid,  a  new  point,  before  un- 
suspected, and  very  extraordinary.  Seems  to  confer  a 
new  property  on  the  matter  in  the  second  state.  Curious 
that  as  gas  and  as  solid  non-conduct,  and  that  as  liquid 
conduct.' 

'  This  assumption  of  two  states,  perhaps,  connected 
with  the  conducting  power  of  carbon,  and  non-con- 
ducting power  of  diamond.' 

'  Does  not  insulation  by  solid  show  that  decomposi- 
tion by  voltaic  pile  is  due  to  slight  power  superadded 
upon  previous  chemical  attractive  forces  of  particles 
when  fluid  ?  Since  mere  fixation  of  particles  prevents, 
it  must  be  slight.' 

'  Does  it  not  show  very  important  relations  between 
the  decomposibility  of  such  bodies  and  their  conducting 
power  ?  As  if  here  the  electricity  were  only  a  transfer 
of  a  series  of  alternations  or  vibrations,  and  not  a  body 
transmitted  directly.  May  settle  or  relate  to  question 
of  materiality  or  fluid  of  electricity.' 

On  February  21  he  experimented  first  with  sulphuret 
of  silver.  '  Very  extraordinary.' 

'  When  all  was  cold,  conducted  a  little  (by  the  galva- 
nometer). The  heat  rose  as  the  conducting  power  in- 
creased (a  curious  fact) ;  yet  I  do  not  think  it  became 
high  enough  to  fuse  the  sulphuret.  The  whole  passed 
whilst  in  the  solid  state.  The  hot  sulphuret  seems  to 
conduct  as  a  metal  would,  and  could  get  sparks  with 


26  LIFE    OP    FARADAY. 

1833.      wires  at  the  end,  and  a  fine  spark  with  charcoal.'    And 
"^ET!  41.    then  he  proceeds  to  examine  a  multitude  of  other  sub- 
stances. 

February  26th  he  writes,  '  Chloride  of  magnesium, 
when  solid,  and  wire  freezed  in,  non-conductor.  When 
fused,  conducted  very  well,  and  was  decomposed.  At 
P.  pole  much  action  and  gas,  Chlorine  (?).  At  N.  pole 
magnesium  separated  and  no  gas.  Sometimes  magne- 
sium burnt,  flying  off  in  globules,  burning  brilliantly. 
When  wire  at  that  pole  put  in  water  or  dilute  muriatic 
acid,  matter  round  it  acted  powerfully,  evolving  hy- 
drogen and  forming  magnesia ;  and  when  wire  and 
surrounding  matter  held  in  spirit  lamp,  magnesium 
burnt  with  intense  light  into  magnesia.  VERY  GOOD 

EXPERIMENT. ' 

April  1st,  he  returns  to  the  sulphuret  of  silver  again. 
'  All  the  effects  of  electro-chemical  decomposition  seem 
to  show  that  in  ordinary  chemical  affinity  the  particles 
exert  an  influence  not  merely  on  those  with  which  they 
are  combined,  but  also,  although  to  a  weaker  extent, 
upon  those  particles  combined  with  their  neighbours : 
that,  in  fact,  it  is  not  a  mere  tendency  to  unite  par- 
ticle to  particle,  but  that  tendency  is  general,  and  that 
even  those  in  excess  exert  an  influence,  though  it  be 
not  enough  to  overpower  definite  combination.  Many 
facts  in  chemistry  also  bear  on  this  view,  that  particles 
act  in  common.  Berthollet,  Phillips,  &c.,  have  quoted 
cases,  but  it  is  not  merely  incidental  in  these  phe- 
nomena. Electro-chemical  decomposition  seems  to  be 
essentially  dependent  upon  it.' 

April  5th,  he  still  worked  on  the  sulphuret  of 
silver,  and  says  :  '  Hence  it  is  quite  clear  that  a  solid 
can  conduct,  that  it  can  decompose  whilst  solid,  that 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF    HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  27 

increasing  heat  increases  conducting  power,  that  ele-     1833. 
k  ments  are  electro-chemically  arranged,, that  sulphur  is    ^ET.  41. 
either  positive  or  negative  (as  folks  say)  at  pleasure.' 

April  13th. — 'Why  did  Davy  require  water  in  de- 
composing potassa  ?  ' 

'  If  decomposition  by  voltaic  battery  depended  upon 
the  attraction  of  the  poles  being  stronger  than  that  of 
the  particles  separated,  it  would  follow  that  the  weakest 
electrical  attraction  was  stronger  than  the  strongest,  or 
than  very  strong,  chemical  attraction ;  i.e.  such  as  exists 
between  oxygen  and  hydrogen,  acid  and  alkali,  potas- 
sium and  oxygen,  chlorine  and  sodium,  &c.  This  not 
likely.' 

'  If  voltaic  decomposition  of  the  kind  I  believe,  then 
revise  all  substances  upon  the  new  view,  to  see  if  they 
may  not  be  decomposed,  &c.' 

'A  single  element  is  never  attracted  by  a  pole, 
i.e.  without  attraction  of  other  element  at  other  pole. 
Hence  doubt  Mr.  Brande's  experiments  on  attraction 
of  gases  and  vapours.  Doubt  attraction  by  poles  alto- 
gether.' 

Professor  Tyndall  sums  up  this  fourth  series  of  experi- 
mental researches  in  electricity  thus : — '  He  found  that 
though  the  current  passed  through  water,  it  did  not  pass 
through  ice  ;  why  not,  since  they  are  one  and  the  same 
substance  ?  Some  years  subsequently  he  answered  this 
question  by  saying  that  the  liquid  condition  enables 
the  molecule  of  water  to  turn  round  so  as  to  place  itself 
in  the  proper  line  of  polarisation,  while  the  rigidity  of 
the  solid  condition  prevents  this  arrangement.  This 
polar  arrangement  must  precede  decomposition,  and 
decomposition  is  an  accompaniment  of  conduction.  He 
then  passed  on  to  other  substances ;  to  oxides  and 


28  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1833.  chlorides,  and  iodides,  and  salts,  and  sulphurets,  and 
^ET.'4i7  found  them  all  insulators  when  solid,  and  conductors 
when  fused.  In  all  cases,  moreover,  except  one — and 
this  exception  he  thought  might  be  apparent  only- 
he  found  the  passage  of  the  current  across  the  fused 
compound  to  be  accompanied  by  its  decomposition. 
Is  then  the  act  of  decomposition  essential  to  the  act 
of  conduction  in  these  bodies?  Even  recently  this 
question  was  warmly  contested.  Faraday  was  very 
cautious  latterly  in  expressing  himself  upon  this  subject ; 
but  as  a  matter  of  fact  he  held  that  an  infinitesimal 
quantity  of  electricity  might  pass  through  a  compound 
liquid  without  producing  its  decomposition.  De  la  Rive, 
who  has  been  a  great  worker  on  the  chemical  phe- 
nomena of  the  pile,  is  very  emphatic  on  the  other  side. 
Experiment,  according  to  him  and  others,  establishes 
in  the  most  conclusive  manner  that  no  trace  of  elec- 
tricity can  pass  through  a  liquid  compound  without 
producing  its  equivalent  decomposition.' 

The  fifth  series  was  on  electro-chemical  decomposi- 
tion ;  new  conditions  of  electro-chemical  decomposition, 
influence  of  water  in  electro -chemical  decomposition, 
and  theory  of  electro-chemical  decomposition.  It  was 
received  at  the  Royal  Society  June  18.  This  series 
is  continued  in  the  seventh  series  on  electro-chemical 
decomposition  (continued),  and  is  so  connected  with  the 
eighth  series  on  the  electricity  of  the  voltaic  pile,  that 
these  three  papers  must  be  considered  as  one  vast 
work.  In  the  two  first,  Faraday  tries  to  make  clear  to 
himself  what  actually  takes  place  in  solutions  through 
which  currents  of  electricity  are  passing,  and  in  the 
third  paper  he  applies  the  facts  he  had  obtained, 
and  proves  that  they  hold  good  in  the  voltaic  pile. 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  29 

Having  satisfied  himself  of  the  identity  of  the  differ-  1833. 
ent  electricities,  and  of  their  difference  Only  in  intensity,  "^TiiT 
he  thought  it  probable  that  the  most  intense  would, 
when  applied  to  chemical  decomposition,  give  new 
facts  and  new  views.  In  April  he  passes  the  machine 
electricity  through  pieces  of  litmus  and  turmeric  mois- 
tened and  connected  by  solution  of  sulphate  of  soda. 
Wherever  the  current  entered  or  left  the  test  paper, 
there  was  evidence  of  decomposition, '  indicating  at  once 
an  internal  action  of  the  parts  suffering  decomposition, 
and  appearing  to  show  that  the  power  that  is  effectual 
in  separating  the  elements  is  exerted  there  and  not  in 
the  poles.' 

May  2,  1833,  his  note-book  shows  an  inquiry  of 
the  greatest  interest  as  regards  his  researches  on  light 
in  1845.  He  begins,  '  As  to  effect  of  decomposing 
solution  on  polarised  ray  of  light.  It  can  be  only  two 
directions,  one  across  the  current,  the  other  along  it.' 
'  Have  been  passing  ray  of  polarised  light  through  de- 
composing solutions  to  ascertain  if  any  sensible  effect 
on  the  light.' 

Saturated  solution  of  sulphate  of  soda  was  first  used, 
and  the  polarised  ray  passed  through  an  extent  of 
seven  inches  across,  and  afterwards  in?  the  direction  of 
the  electric  current. 

'  On  making  or  breaking  contact  not  the  slightest 
effect  could  be  perceived  on  the  polarised  ray. 

'  I  do  not  think,  therefore,  that  decomposing  solutions 
or  substances  will  be  found  to  have  (as  a  consequence 
of  decomposition  or  arrangement  for  the  time)  any 
effect  on  the  polarised  ray.' 

'  Should  now  try  non-decomposing  bodies,  as  solid 
nitre,  nitrate  of  silver,  borax,  glass,  &c.,  whilst  solid,  to 


30  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1833.     see   if  any  internal  state  induced,  which  by   decom- 

JET.T4L     position  is  destroyed,  i.e.  whether,  when  they  cannot 

decompose,  any  state  of  electrical  tension  is  present. 

My  borate  of  lead  glass  good,  and  common  electricity 

better  than  voltaic.' 

May  6  he  makes  further  experiments,  and  concludes, 
'  Hence  I  see  no  reason  to  expect  that  any  kind  of 
structure  or  tension  can  be  rendered  evident,  either  in 
decomposing  or  non-decomposing  bodies,  in  insulating 
or  conducting  states.' 

He  then  goes  on  with  his  experiments  on  decomposi- 
tion. 

And  May  16  he  writes,  'Is  the  law  this?  "Equal 
currents  of  electricity  measured  by  the  galvanometer 
evolve  equal  volumes  of  gas  or  effect  equal  chemical 
actions  in  a  constant  medium  ?  "  Is  it  possible  it  may 
generalise  so  far  as  to  give  equal  chemical  action, 
estimated  on  the  same  elements  on  variable  media  ? 
Ought  it  not  to  be  so  if  decomposition  essential  to 
conduction  ? '  And  then  he  proceeds  to  experiment  with 
different  sized  poles,  different  decomposing  solutions, 
and  different  kinds  of  poles,  including  water  as  a  pole. 

In  his  paper  he  sums  up  his  conclusion  as  to  the 
nature  of  electro-chemical  decomposition  thus  :  '  It 
appears  to  me  that  the  effect  is  produced  by  an  internal 
corpuscular  action,  exerted  according  to  the  direction 
of  the  electric  current,  and  that  it  is  due  to  a  force 
either  superadded  to  or  giving  direction  to  the  ordinary 
chemical  affinity  of  the  bodies  present.  The  body 
under  decomposition  may  be  considered  as  a  mass  of 
acting  particles,  all  those  which  are  included  in  the 
course  of  the  electric  current  contributing  to  the  final 
effect.' 


THE   FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.         .        31 

'The  poles  are  merely  the  surfaces  or    doors  by      1833. 
which  the  electricity  enters  into  or  passes  out  of  the  "lE^T' 
substances   suffering  decomposition.      They   limit  the 
extent  of  that  substance  in  the  course  of  the  electric 
current,  being  its  terminations  in  that  direction.  Hence 
the  elements  evolved  pass  so  far  and  no  further.' 

Dr.  Tyndall's  account  of  the  continuation  of  the  fifth 
series  gives  a  far  clearer  view  than  can  be  gathered 
from  the  notes  of  the  experiments.  This  research 
lasted  all  the  autumn  of  1833. 

Dr.  Tyndall  says,  '  His  paper  on  electro-chemical 
decomposition,  received  by  the  Eoyal  Society  January  9, 
1834,  opens  with  the  proposal  of  a  new  terminology. 
He  would  avoid  the  word  "  current  "  if  he  could.  He 
does  abandon  the  word  "  poles  "  as  applied  to  the  ends 
of  a  decomposing  cell,  because  it  suggests  the  idea  of 
attraction,  substituting  for  it  the  perfectly  neutral  term 
electrodes.  He  applied  the  term  electrolyte  to  every 
substance  which  can  be  decomposed  by  the  current, 
and  the  act  of  decomposition  he  calls  electrolysis.  All 
these  terms  have  become  current  in  science.  He  called 
the  positive  electrode  the  anode,  and  the  negative  one 
the  cathode,  but  these  terms,  though  frequently  used, 
have  not  enjoyed  the  same  currency  as  the  others. 
The  terms  anion  and  cation,  which  he  applied  to  the 
constituents  of  the  decomposed  electrolyte,  and  the 
term  ion,  which  included  both  anions  and  cations,  are 
still  less  frequently  employed. 

*  Faraday  now  passes  from  terminology  to  research  ; 
he  sees  the  necessity  of  quantitative  determinations, 
and  seeks  to  supply  himself  with  a  measure  of  voltaic 
electricity.  This  he  finds  in  the  quantity  of  water 
decomposed  by  the  current.  He  tests  this  measure  in 


32 


LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 


1832-34.  all  possible  waj^s,  to  assure  himself  that  no  error  can 
^Ei.40-43.  arise  from  its  employment.  He  places  in  the  course  of 
one  and  the  same  current  a  series  of  cells  with  elec- 
trodes of  different  sizes,  some  of  them  plates  of  plati- 
num, others  merely  platinum  wires,  and  collects  the 
gas  liberated  on  each  distinct  pair  of  electrodes.  He 
finds  the  quantity  of  gas  to  be  the  same  for  all.  Thus 
he  concludes  that  when  the  same  quantity  of  electricity 
is  caused  to  pass  through  a  series  of  cells  containing 
acidulated  water,  the  electro-chemical  action  is -inde- 
pendent of  the  size  of  the  electrodes.  He  next  proves 
that  variations  in  intensity  do  not  interfere  with  this 
equality  of  action.  Whether  his  battery  is  charged 
with  strong  acid  or  with  weak ;  whether  it  consists  of 
five  pairs  or  of  fifty  pairs  ;  in  short,  whatever  be  its 
source,  when  the  same  current  is  sent  through  his  series 
of  cells,  the  same  amount  of  decomposition  takes  place 
in  all.  He  next  assures  himself  that  the  strength  or 
weakness  of  his  dilute  acid  does  not  interfere  with  this 
law.  Sending  the  same  current  through  a  series  of 
cells  containing  mixtures  of  sulphuric  acid  and  water 
of  different  strengths,  he  finds,  however  the  proportion 
of  acid  to  water  might  vary,  the  same  amount  of  gas 
to  be  collected  in  all  the  cells.  A  crowd  of  facts  of 
this  character  forced  upon  Faraday's  mind  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  amount  of  electro-chemical  decomposition 
depends,  not  upon  the  size  of  the  electrodes,  not  upon 
the  intensity  of  the  current,  not  upon  the  strength  of 
the  solution,  but  solely  upon  the  quantity  of  electricity 
which  passes  through  the  cell.  The  quantity  of  elec- 
tricity he  concludes  is  proportional  to  the  amount  of 
chemical  action.  On  this  law  Faraday  based  the  con- 
struction of  his  celebrated  voltameter  or  measurer  of 
voltaic  electricity. 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  33 

'  But  before  he  can  apply  this  measure  he  must  clear  1832-34. 
his  ground  of  numerous  possible  sources  of  error.  The  ^1.40-43. 
decomposition  of  his  acidulated  water  is  certainly  a 
direct  result  of  the  current ;  but  as  the  varied  and 
important  researches  of  MM.  Becquerel,  De  la  Eive, 
and  others  had  shoAvn,  there  are  also  secondary  actions, 
which  may  materially  interfere  with  and  complicate  the 
pure  action  of  the  current.  These  actions  may  occur 
in  two  ways  :  either  the  liberated  ion  may  seize  upon 
the  electrode  against  which  it  is  set  free,  forming  a 
chemical  compound  with  that  electrode  ;  or  it  may 
seize  upon  the  substance  of  the  electrolyte  itself,  and 
thus  introduce  into  the  circuit  chemical  actions  over 
and  above  those  due  to  the  current.  Faraday  sub- 
jected these  secondary  actions  to  an  exhaustive  exami- 
nation. Instructed  by  his  experiments,  and  rendered 
competent  by  them  to  distinguish  between  primary 
and  secondary  results,  he  proceeds  to  establish  the 
doctrine  of  "  definite  electro-chemical  decomposition." 

'  Into  the  same  circuit  he  introduced  his  voltameter, 
which  consisted  of  a  graduated  tube  filled  with  acidu- 
lated water  and  provided  with  platinum  plates  for  the 
decomposition  of  the  water,  and  also  a  cell  containing 
chloride  of  tin.  Experiments  already  referred  to  had 
taught  him  that  this  substance,  though  an  insulator 
when  solid,  is  a  conductor  when  fused,  the  passage  of 
the  current  being  always  accompanied  by  the  decom- 
position of  the  chloride.  He  wished  now  to  ascertain 
what  relation  this  decomposition  bore  to  that  of  the 
water  in  his  voltameter. 

4  Completing  his  circuit,  he  permitted  the  current  to 
continue  until  "  a  reasonable  quantity  of  gas  "  was  col- 
lected in  the  volta Dieter.  The  circuit  was  then  broken, 

VOL.  II.  D 


34  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1833-34.  and  the  quantity  of  tin  liberated  compared  with  the 
jEr.41-43.  quantity  of  gas.  The  weight  of  the  former  was  3-2 
grains,  that  of  the  latter  049742  of  a  grain.  Oxygen, 
as  you  know,  unites  with  hydrogen  in  the  proportion 
of  8  to  1  to  form  water.  Calling  the  equivalent,  or,  as 
it  is  sometimes  called,  the  atomic  weight  of  hydrogen 
1,  that  of  oxygen  is  8 ;  that  of  water  is  consequently 
8-f  1,  or  9.  Now,  if  the  quantity  of  water  decomposed 
in  Faraday's  experiment  be  represented  by  the  number 
9,  or  in  other  words  by  the  equivalent  of  water,  then 
the  quantity  of  tin  liberated  from  the  fused  chloride  is 
found  by  an  easy  calculation  to  be  57*9,  which  is  almost 
exactly  the  chemical  equivalent  of  tin.  Thus  both 
the  water  and  the  chloride  were  broken  up  in  propor- 
tions expressed  by  their  respective  equivalents.  The 
amount  of  electric  force  which  wrenched  asunder  the 
constituents  of  the  molecule  of  water  was  competent, 
and  neither  more  nor  less  than  competent,  to  wrench 
asunder  the  constituents  of  the  molecules  of  the  chlo- 
ride of  tin.  The  fact  is  typical.  With  the  indica- 
tions of  his  voltameter  he  compared  the  decomposition 
of  other  substances  both  singly  and  in  series.  He  sub- 
mitted his  conclusions  to  numberless  tests.  He  pur- 
posely introduced  secondary  actions.  He  endeavoured 
to  hamper  the  fulfilment  of  those  laws  which  it  was  the 
intense  desire  of  his  mind  to  see  established.  But  from 
all  these  difficulties  emerged  the  golden  truth,  that 
under  every  variety  of  circumstances  the  decompositions 
of  the  voltaic  current  are  as  definite  in  their  character 
as  those  chemical  combinations  which  gave  birth  to 
the  atomic  theory.  This  law  of  electro-chemical  de- 
composition ranks,  in  point  of  importance,  with  that 
of  definite  combining  proportions  in  chemistry.' 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  35 

One  note  from  his  laboratory  book  and  one  from  1833-34. 
his  paper  may  be  added.  ^1.41-43'. 

December  18th,  1833,  he  writes  :  <  The  present  voltaic 
apparatus,  i.e.  the  trough,  must  be  a  very  coarse,  wasteful 
arrangement  if  referred  to  its  first  principle.  For  the 
zinc  dissolved  ought  to  supply  electricity  enough,  if 
rightly  collected,  to  affect  the  world  almost.' 

In  his  paper  he  says  :  '  Zinc  and  platina  wires  one- 
eighteenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter  and  about  half  an  inch 
long  dipped  into  dilute  sulphuric  acid  so  weak  that  it 
is  not  sensibly  sour  to  the  tongue,  or  scarcely  to  our 
most  delicate  test-papers,  will  evolve  more  electricity 
in  one-twentieth  of  a  minute  than  any  man  would 
willingly  allow  to  pass  through  his  body  at  once.  The 
chemical  action  of  a  grain  of  water  upon  four  grains 
of  zinc  can  evolve  electricity  equal  in  quantity  to  that 
of  a  powerful  thunderstorm.' 

December  29th,  1833,  under  the  head  of  '  Electro- 
chemical equivalents — propositions  relating  to,'  after 
considering  the  possibility  of  making  a  table  of  real 
electro-chemical  equivalents,  he  continues,  'I  must 
keep  my  researches  really  experimental,  and  not  let 
them  deserve  anywhere  the  character  of  hypothetical 
imaginations' 

In  the  early  part  of  1834  Faraday  was  at  work  on  the 
quantity  of  electricity  evolved,  and  on  secondary  actions, 
and  among  other  substances  he  used  fluoride  of  lead. 
From  this  he  worked  for  fluorine.  On  February  10th 
he  writes  :  'Daniell  called  on  me  to-day  to  ask  me  about 
my  views  of  the  elementary  experiment  of  a  single  pair 
of  metals,  and  the  relation  to  poles,  &c.,  &c.,  and  if  it 
had  not  occurred  to  me  whether  he  might  work  at  it. 
I  told  him  my  views,  and  wished  him  to  work  con- 

D    2 


36  LIFE   OF    FAEADAY. 

1833-34.  temporaneously  with  me.  He  behaved  very  generously, 
jEx.41-43.  leaving  it  open  to  me  alone.  But  if  another  catches  my 
idea,  and  works  it  out  before  I  can  write  ray  paper,  I 
shall  always  regret  that  Daniell  has  given  way  to  me, 
and  that  another  should  come  before  him.  Must  leave 
fluorine,  and  hasten  this  matter  of  the  VOLTAIC  PILE. 
I  showed  Daniell  my  preparatory  notes  for  the  paper.' 
He  then  proceeds,  on  February  12th,  to  experiments 
on  the  generating  plates  and  the  intensity  of  the  current 
they  produce.  First  he  uses  amalgamated  plates,  and 
then  he  puts  intervening  platina  plates  ;  and  he  writes, 
*  how  very  needful  the  current  is  to  decomposition  in 
the  cases  where  the  intervening  platinas  are  used.  But 
they  cannot  be  cause  and  effect  to  each  other.  What  is 
the  common  origin  and  cause  of  both  ?  Must  make  this 
out.  It  is  of  no  use  continuing  to  suppose  one  as  pro- 
ducing the  other  in  either  order.' 

'  These  cases  of  retardation  seem  beautifully  to  show 
the  antagonism  of  the  chemical  powers  at  the  elec- 
tro-motive parts  with  the  chemical  powers  at  the  in- 
terposed parts.  The  first  are  producing  electric  effects, 
the  second  opposing  electric  effects,  and  the  two  seem 
equipoised  as  in  a  balance,  and  in  both  cause  and  effect 
appear  to  be  identical  with  each  other.  Hence  chemi- 
cal action  merely  electrical  action,  and  electric  action 
merely  chemical.' 

Almost  immediately  he  adds:  'I  am  continually 
wanting  a  clear,  definite  view  of  the  actions  in  a 
single  voltaic  circuit.'  Then  again,  after  some  fur- 
ther experiments  on  resistance,  he  says:  'Must  con- 
sider the  case  of  single  decomposition  very  well  and 
closely,  for  that  includes  the  whole.  Why  is  it  ne- 
cessary there  should  be  a  discharge  of  electricity  before 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  37 

action  can  go  on  ?     Why  not  zinc  alone  decompose,  and  1833-34. 
how  is  it  that  in  existing  circumstances   the  platina 
helps?' 

On  February  19th  he  makes  the  experiment,  to  show 
that  contact  of  the  single  pair  of  metals  is  not  necessary 
to  produce  chemical  decomposition. 

On  the  22nd  he  writes :  'We  seem  to  have  the  power 
of  deciding  in  certain  cases  of  chemical  affinity  (as  of 
zinc  with  the  oxygen  of  water,  &c.),  which  of  two  modes 
of  action  of  the  one  power  shall  be  exerted.  In  the 
one  mode  we  can  transfer  the  power  on  it,  being  able 
to  produce  elsewhere  its  equivalent  of  action;  in 
the  other  it  is  not  transferred  on,  but  exerted  at  the 
spot.  The  first  is  the  case  of  voltaic-electric  pro- 
duction, the  other  the  ordinary  cases  of  chemical 
affinity.  But  both  are  chemical  actions,  and  due  to  one 
power  or  principle.  That  no  electricity  is  set  free  in 
the  latter  case  shows  the  equality  of  forces,  and 
therefore  of  electricity  in  those  quantities  which  are 
called  chemical  equivalents.  Hence  another  proof 
that  chemical  affinity  and  electricity  are  the  same.' 

He  continues :  '  I  must  very  closely  consider  and 
examine  a  case  of  combination  in  which  no  electric 
current  is  produced,  such  as  zinc  in  dilute  sulphuric 
acid,  or  oxide  of  lead  in  nitric  acid,  &c.  What  becomes 
here  of  all  the  electricity  which  must  pass  during  the 
combination  ?  How  is  it  destroyed  between  the  par- 
ticles ?  Of  course  they  are  able  to  neutralise  each  other, 
but  how  do  they  neutralise  ? 

'  Are  not  rubbed  glass  and  the  rubber  exactly  in  the 
state  of  zinc  and  the  oxygen  of  water  in  an  electro- 
motive circle?  i.e.  when  the  rubbed  glass  and  the 
rubber  are  separated,  are  they  not  in  the  state  assumed 


38  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1833-34.  by  the  zinc  and  the  oxygen  before  they  combine, 
^41^43.  and  before  the  contact  is  made  in  a  single  voltaic 
circle  ?  They  probably  give  an  exalted  view  of  the 
conditions  of  the  particles  of  the  zinc  and  oxygen — 
a  permanent  view,  as  it  were.  How  do  the  states 
agree  ? 

'Would  not  this  view,  if  supported,  reduce  both 
modes  of  evolution  to  one  common  principle — the 
mutual  influence  of  neighbouring  particles  in  the  glass 
not  proceeding  to  a  full  effect ;  in  the  voltaic  circle 
being  completed  and  being  followed  in  succession  by  a 
multitude  of  others  of  the  same  kind?  In  the  last  it  is 
the  attraction  of  the  zinc  for  the  oxygen  of  the  oxide, 
and  this  would  tell  as  well  for  the  instances  of  induc- 
tion, and  perhaps  of  common  electricity.' 

He  then  experiments  on  the  intensity  of  a  current 
and  its  power  of  affecting  decompositions  in  different 
resisting  fluids;  and  March  8th  writes :  *  Hence  I  really 
believe  that  the  current  passes,  but  the  intensity  is  not 
sufficient  to  cause  decomposition  of  water.' 

Faraday  published  these  and  other  experiments  in 
the  eighth  series  of  his  'Eesearches.'  It  was  received 
at  the  Eoyal  Society,  April  7,  1834.  It  was  on  the 
electricity  of  the  voltaic  pile :  its  source,  quantity,  in- 
tensity. In  this  and  the  two  former  papers  Faraday 
worked  « to  remove  doubtful  knowledge '  regarding  the 
definite  action  of  electricity  on  decomposing  bodies,  and 
the  identity  of  the  power  so  used  with  the  power  to  be 
overcome.  He  got  clear  ideas  of  the  absence  of  all 
attractive  power  in  the  poles ;  clear  ideas  of  the  active 
state  of  each  particle  of  the  electroleids  between  the 
eisode  and  exode  ;  clear  ideas  of  the  definite  quantity  of 
chemical  action  caused  by  a  definite  quantity  of  electri- 


THE    FIRST   PEEIOD    OF    HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  39 

city,  and  clear  ideas  that  the  contact  of  metals  was  not  1833-34. 
the  origin  of  the  electro-motive  force,  but  that  volta-  kx.4i-43. 
electric  excitation  and  ordinary  chemical  affinity  are 
'  both   chemical    actions   and   due   to    one   force    or 
principle.' 

At  the  end  of  this  paper  he  says  :  '  I  would  rather 
defer  revising  the  whole  theory  of  electro-chemical 
decomposition  until  I  can  obtain  clearer  views  of  the 
way  in  which  the  power  under  consideration  can  appear 
at  one  time  as  associated  with  particles  giving  them 
their  chemical  attraction,  and  at  another  as  free  elec- 
tricity.' 

The  sixth  series  of  '  Eesearches,'  on  the  power  of 
metals  and  other  solids  to  induce  the  combination  of 
gaseous  bodies,  was  sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1833.  This  paper  arose  from  a  fact  observed 
in  the  course  of  one  of  the  experiments,  mentioned 
in  the  seventh  series  of  '  Eesearches.'  It  furnishes 
the  clearest  picture  of  the  way  in  which  Faraday 
worked. 

On  September  17,  1833,  he  writes  in  his  note-book : 
4  Have  been  comparing  decomposition  of  muriatic  acid 


and  water  together,  as  to  the  equivalents  of  elements 
evolved  by  a  given  current  of  electricity.'  'I  re- 
marked that  whilst  b  tube  was  being  examined,  the 


40  LIFE    OF    FAKADAY. 

1833-34.  bulk  of  gas  in  a  had  diminished ;  therefore,  put  on  a 
jEi.41-43.  alone,  and  by  battery  evolved  gas  until  it  was  full. 
Being  left  to  itself,  this  gas  gradually  went  or  di- 
minished, and  after  three  or  four  hours,  not  a  fourth 
part  was  left.  At  first,  twelve  o'clock,  there  were  116 
parts,  and  at  last,  five  o'clock,  there  were  only  13'5 
parts.  Think  this  must  have  been  an  effect  of  per- 
meability through  the  cork  at  top,  by  wires,  &c.,  but 
must  examine  it  closely,  and  also  use  tube  hermetically 
sealed  at  the  top.' 

'September  18th. — To-day  examined  the  13'5  parts 
left  yesterday;  by  heating  spongy  platina  in  it  the 
gas  diminished  to  two  parts.  Hence,  think  it  cannot 
be  due  to  permeability  of  cork,  &c.,  for  no  sensible 
portion  of  air  has  entered.  Think  it  must  be  due  to 
recombination  of  the  oxygen  and  hydrogen  in  some 
way.' 

On  19th,  after  making  more  sure  of  his  facts,  he 
writes  :  '  I  suspect  all  this  is  some  combining  power, 
possessed  by  the  platina  of  the  poles — perhaps  given 
to  it  during  the  decomposition.'  '  Must  ascertain 
whether  both  poles,  or  only  the  positive  has  the  power.' 
'  If  poles  have  this  power,  the  effect  will  immediately 
connect  with  that  of  spongy  platina,  and  probably 
explain  it.'  '  Perhaps  merely  digesting  platina  in  dilute 
sulphuric  acid,  or  at  least  in  nitro-muriatic  acid,  may 
give  it  this  power.'  '  Probably  heating  in  air,  or  in 
flame  with  little  muriate  of  ammonia  vapour,  or  in 
chlorine,  &c.,  will  give  this  power  to  platina,  in  plate 
or  lump.  Probably  also  heat  much  assist  it.  Try  all 
this.' 

Almost  immediately  afterwards  he  writes :  '  It  is 
quite  clear  that  the  positive  pole  has  peculiar  power  of 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  41 

causing  oxygen  and  hydrogen  to  combine.'     And  then  1833-34. 
he  left  the  subject  till  October  10,  when  he  found  that  j&4iZl& 
positive  pole,  put  into  mixed  gases,  became  red-hot  in 
the  middle  part,  and  the  rest  of  the  gas  exploded. 

'  A  pole,  or,  as  it  should  now  be  called,  a  plate,  was 
merely  heated  by  the  spirit-lamp  and  blow-pipe,  not 
having  been  connected  with  the  battery,  and  put  up 
into  gas,  oxygen  and  hydrogen.  At  first,  there  was  no 
action,  but  after  a  while,  condensation  began  and  went 
on  well  at  the  last.' 

October  11  he  says  :  '  Hence  heat  can  bring  platina 
into  the  acting  state.'  And  then  he  tries  mechanical 
and  chemical  actions  to  prepare  the  platinum  plate. 

On  October  14  he  writes :  '  Whilst  heated  and  in 
the  sulphuric  acid,  the  surfaces  (of  plates)  acquired 
such  a  state  as  to  cause  much  friction  when  the  pieces 
were  rubbed  against  each  other.  This  no  doubt 
because  of  their  perfectly  clean  state,  and  helps  to 
show  that  effect  is  due  to  that  clean  state  of  surfaces 
which  acid  and  battery  induce.'  Then  he  found  that 
by  heating  an  active  plate  it  sometimes  lost  its  power, 
and  he  writes  :  '  Must  remember  that  platina  can 
combine  with  carbon  by  heat,  and  that  probably  the 
surface  is  thus  affected  in  these  modes  of  igniling.' 

This  day  he  cleaned  a  platinum  plate  chemically 
with  potass,  heat,  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  and  then 
put  it  into  the  mixed  gases.  *  Instant  excellent  action  ; 
the  gas  rose  quickly,  the  platinum  became  red-hot,  and 
Doberiner's  effect  was  produced  without  action  of  battery 
on  the  platina — Good.' 

November  7,  he  tries  the  effect  of  gold  and  palla- 
dium, silver,  copper.  The  two  first  acted. 

November   8    and    12,   tried  the  effect   of   mixing 


42  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1833-34.  other  gases  with  the  oxygen  and  hydrogen,  and  hydro- 

^T.4i-43.  gen  alone. 

Then  he  experimented  on  the  rapidity  with  which 
substances  get  dirty. 

November  25,  he  says:  'Think  this  a  subject  of 
great  consequence,  for  I  am  convinced  that  the  super- 
ficial actions  of  matter,  and  the  actions  of  particles  not 
directly  or  strongly  in  combination,  are  becoming  daily 
more  and  more  important  in  chemical  as  well  as  in 
mechanical  philosophy.' 

The  conclusion  at  which  he  arrived  is  thus  stated  in 
his  paper  : — 

'All  the  phenomena  connected  with  this  subject 
press  upon  my  mind  the  conviction,  that  the  effects  in 
question  are  entirely  incidental,  and  of  a  secondary 
nature  (not  electrical,  as  M.  Doberiner,  the  discoverer 
of  the  action  of  spongy  platinum,  had  considered), 
that  they  are  dependent  upon  the  natural  conditions  of 
gaseous  elasticity,  combined  with  the  exertion  of  that 
attractive  force  possessed  by  many  bodies,  especially 
those  which  are  solid,  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  pro- 
bably belonging  to  all ;  by  which  they  are  drawn  into 
association  more  or  less  close,  without  at  the  same 
time  undergoing  chemical  combination,  though  often 
assuming  the  condition  of  adhesion ;  and  which  occa- 
sionally leads,  under  favourable  circumstances,  as  in 
the  present  instance,  to  the  combination  of  bodies 
simultaneously  subjected  to  this  attraction.' 

In  the  abstract  of  the  Friday  evening  discourse 
which  he  gave  on  this  subject  in  1834,  he  writes: — 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF    HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  43 

'  The  peculiar  power  of  metallic  bodies  to  produce  1833-34. 
such  effects,  he  accounted  for,  first,  by  the  supposition  of  JET.U-IS. 
their  possessing  a  specific  power  of  attraction  for  gases, 
totally  different  from  chemical  affinity ;  and  second,  by 
the  peculiar  condition  of  elastic  bodies  when  mixed. 
The  first  supposition  he  attempted  to  support  thus  :  he 
threw  a  little  magnesia  on  water,  and  at  the  same 
time  filings  of  zinc  on  a  different  portion  of  water. 
The  former  immediately  became  wet  and  sank,  the 
latter  remained  dry  and  floated ;  in  fact,  it  seemed  to 
evince,  as  it  were,  a  repulsive  power  towards  the  water. 
In  the  same  manner,  everyone  knows  that  other  me- 
tallic bodies  are  not  easily  wet.  Immerse  the  blade  of  a 
knife  in  water ;  on  drawing  it  out  it  will  not  be  equably 
wet,  but  the  water  will  appear  in  patches,  or  run  into 
globules.  But  suppose  you  dip  in  the  platina  plate, 
cleaned  as  directed,  it  comes  out  uniformly  wet.  Now 
the  only  difference  is  that  the  matters  adhering  to  the 
surface  have  been  in  the  latter  case  removed ;  but  they 
are  chiefly  gases,  vapours,  atmospheric  air,  &c.  ;  for 
such,  therefore,  metals  must  have  a  specific  power  of 
attraction,  and,  being  thus  in  contact  with  them,  refuse 
contact  with  liquid  bodies.  For  the  second  point, 
Dalton  has  shown  that  the  particles  of  one  gas  pre- 
serve under  every  pressure  (short  of  that  which  pro- 
duces liquefaction)  the  same  relative  distance;  but  it 
appears  that  they  may  approach  indefinitely  near  to  the 
particles  of  any  other  gas.  It  is  above  shown  that 
they  may  come  into  actual  contact  with  a  clean  me- 
tallic surface.  If  then  our  platina  plate  be  introduced 
into  a  mixture  of  oxygen  and  hydrogen  gases,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  an  atom  of  each  in  an  indefinitely  near  state 
of  approximation,  is  at  the  same  moment  brought  into 


44  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1832-34.  contact  with  a  solid  substance ;  their  elasticity  is  thus 
^40^43.  destroyed,  but  elasticity  is  the  condition  of  their  gaseous 
existence.  This,  therefore,  can  no  longer  continue; 
they  combine,  and  fall  down  in  the  form  of  a  liquid. 
Such,'  said  Mr.  Faraday,  '  is  my  theory ;  every  one  is  of 
course  partial  to  the  child  of  his  own  imagination,  and 
I  have  not,  after  much  pains,  been  able  to  see  where 
this  is  deficient.  In  submitting  it  to  your  attention,  as 
the  result  of  experiments  conducted  in  your  laboratory, 
I  wish  to  show  that  I  have  not  lightly  prized  or  in- 
dolently reposed  under  the  favours  you  have  conferred 
on  me  by  appointing  me  Fullerian  Professor  in  this 
Institution.  Should  my  views  appear  correct  and  satis- 
factory, they  will  receive  their  highest  reward  in  your 
approbation ;  should  they  appear  to  anyone  to  require 
further  proof,  I  hope  that  I  shall  never  shrink  from  their 
fair  and  candid  discussion.  We  can  all  here  have 
but  one  object — the  elucidation  and  confirmation  of 
truth.' 

During  the  summer  of  1834  Faraday  was  experi- 
menting on  a  new  construction  of  the  voltaic  battery. 
This  was  the  result  of  his  experiments  on  electro- 
chemical decomposition.  In  the  autumn  he  was  busy 
comparing  his  batteiy  with  Wollaston's  battery,  when 
in  October  Mr.  William  Jenkin  showed  him  that  a 
magneto-electric  shock  could  be  obtained  from  a  single 
pair  of  plates.  He  had  found  that  if  the  wire  which 
surrounds  an  electro-magnet  be  used  to  join  the  plates 
of  a  single  cell,  a  shock  is  felt  each  time  contact  is 
broken,  provided  the  ends  of  the  wire  are  grasped  one 
in  each  hand.  It  had  long  been  known  that  a  bright 
electric  spark  occurred  under  the  same  circumstances. 
On  October  15  Faraday  began  his  experiments,  '  as 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  45 

Mr.  Jenkin  does  not  intend  to  work  out  the  result  any  1832-34. 
further.' l  2EtAv-*i 

November  14,  he  writes  :  '  Xow,  then,  begin  to  see 
light.  The  phenomenon  of  increased  spark  is  merely 
a  case  of  the  induction  of  electric  currents.  If  a 
current  be  established  in  a  wire,  and  another  wire 
forming  a  complete  circuit  be  placed  parallel  to  it,  at 
the  moment  the  current  in  the  first  is  stopped,  it 
induces  a  current  in  the  same  direction  in  the  second, 
itself  then  showing  but  a  feeble  spark.  But  if  the 
second  be  away,  it  induces  a  current  in  its  own  wire 
in  the  same  direction,  producing  a  strong  spark.  The 
strong  spark  in  the  current  when  alone  is  therefore 
the  equivalent  of  the  current  it  can  produce  in  a 
neighbouring  wire  when  in  company.' 

c  These  effects  show  that  every  part  of  an  electric 
current  is  acting  by  induction  on  the  neighbouring 
parts  of  the  same  current,  even  in  the  same  wire,  and 
the  same  part  of  the  wire.' 

'Further  investigations  ended  in  identifying  these 
effects  with  the  phenomena  of  induction,  which  I  had 
been  fortunate  enough  to  develope  in  the  first  series  of 

1  Elsewhere  be  writes,  '  The  number  of  suggestions,  hints  for  dis- 
covery, and  propositions  of  various  kinds  offered  to  me  very  freely,  and 
with  perfect  goodwill  and  simplicity  on  the  part  of  the  proposers  for  my 
exclusive  investigation  and  final  honour,  is  remarkably  great,  and  it  is  no 
less  remarkable  that  but  for  one  exception — that  of  Mr.  Jenkin— they 
have  all  been  worthless. 

'It  is  quite  natural  that,  when  a  man  first  catches  sight  of  an  analogy  or 
relation,  however  imperfect  it  may  be,  he  should  suppose  it  a  new  and 
unconsidered  subject,  but  it  is  very  rare  that  the  same  thing  has  not 
passed  before  through  the  mind  of  a  veteran,  and  been  dismissed  as  use- 
less. I  have,  I  think,  universally  found  that  the  man  whose  mind  was 
by  nature  or  self-education  fitted  to  make  good  and  worthy  suggestions 
was  also  the  man  both  able  and  willing  to  work  them  out. 

'  The  volunteers  are  serious  embarrassments  generally  to  the  experienced 
philosopher.' 


46  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1832-34.  these  "  Experimental  Researches."  '    The  results  of  this 
JET.40-43.  investigation  into  the  extra  current  were  sent  on  De- 
cember 18  to  the  Eoyal  Society  as  the  ninth  series  of 
'  Researches,'    on   the   influence   by   induction   of   an 
electric  current  on  itself. 

He  ended  this  inquiry  in  December,  and  made  some 
more  experiments  on  his  voltaic  battery,  which  he 
finished  in  the  second  week  of  January  1835. 

His  work  also  for  the  Royil  Institution  during  1832, 
1833,  and  1834  was  considerable. 

In  1832,  on  the  Saturdays  in  June,  he  gave  a  course 
of  five  lectures,  on  some  points  of  domestic  chemical 
philosophy — a  candle,  a  lamp,  a  chimney,  a  kettle, 
ashes.  As  an  example  of  the  mode  in  which  he  made 
his  notes  for  lectures,  those  on  the  kettle  are  given 
in  an  appendix  to  this  chapter.  They  well  show  his  ex- 
cessive neatness  and  exactness,  and  the  superabundance 
of  his  illustrations.  The  notes  for  his  experiments  were 
put  on  one  side  of  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  the  notes  for 
his  words  on  the  opposite  side ;  and  for  many  years 
he  kept  to  this  arrangement. 

His  Friday  discourses  were:  1.  On  Dr.  Johnson's 
Researches  on  the  Reproductive  Power  of  Planarise 
(cut  again  and  again,  gain  immortality  under  the  knife). 
2.  Recent  experimental  Investigation  of  Volta-electric 
and  Magneto-electric  Induction.  3.  Magneto-electric 
Induction,  and  the  explanation  it  affords  of  Arago's 
Phenomena  of  Magnetism  exhibited  by  moving  Metals. 
4.  Evolution  of  Electricity,  naturally  and  artificially, 
by  the  inductive  action  of  the  Earth's  Magnetism.  At 
the  end  of  the  notes  of  this  lecture  he  says,  *  Refer  to 
Nobili's  results  and  claim  my  own.'  5.  On  the  Crispa- 


THE    B'IRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  47 

tion  of  Fluids  lying  on  vibrating  Surfaces.     And  6.   On  1832-34. 
Morden's  Machinery  for  manufacturing  Bramah's  locks.  ^40^43. 

In  1833,  in  May  and  June,  he  gave  a  course  of  six 
lectures  on  magnetism  and  electricity.  His  subjects 
were  Common  Electricity,  Voltaic  Electricity,  Ther mo- 
Electricity  ;  Common  Magnetism,  Electro-Magnetism, 
Magneto-Electricity — of  this  last  lecture  his  notes  begin, 
'  My  own  branch  of  science  as  to  discovery,  November 
1831;'  and  he  ends  with  general  reflections  on  this 
wonderful,  universal,  subtle,  and  Proteus-like  power. 

His  Friday  discourses  were :  1.  On  the  Identity  of 
Electricity  derived  from  different  sources.  2.  On  the 
practical  Prevention  of  Dry  Rot  in  Timber.  3.  On  the 
Investigation  of  the  Velocity  and  Nature  of  the  Electric 
Spark  and  Light  by  Wheatstone.  4.  On  Mr.  Brunei's 
new  mode  of  constructing  Arches  for  Bridges.  5.  On 
the  mutual  Relations  of  Lime,  Carbonic  Acid,  and 
Water.  6.  On  a  new  Law  of  Electric  Conduction. 

In  1834,  in  May  and  June,  he  gave  a  course  of  six 
lectures  on  the  Mutual  Relation  of  Electrical  and 
Chemical  Phenomena  ;  Chemical  Action  ;  Electrical  Ac- 
tion ;  Association  and  mutual  dependence  of  these  two 
modes  of  action  in  the  voltaic  pile  ;  Electro-chemical  de- 
composition ;  Combustion  as  an  Electrical  Phenomenon  ; 
Relations  of  Chemical  Affinity,  Electricity,  Heat,  Mag- 
netism, and  other  powers  of  Matter.  In  this  last  lecture 
he  gives  his  first  utterance  on  the  correlation  of  physical 
forces:  'Now  consider  a  little  more  generally  the  rela- 
tion of  all  these  powers.  We  cannot  say  that  any  one 
is  the  cause  of  the  others,  but  only  that  all  are  connected 
and  due  to  one  common  cause.  As  to  the  connec- 
tion, observe  the  production  of  any  one  from  another, 
or  the  conversion  of  one  into  another.'  Then  he  gives 


48  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1832-34.  experiments  of  conversion  of  chemical  power  into  heat, 
jfettHLi  of  chemical  power  into  electricity,  of  chemical  power 
into  magnetism;  then  of  electrical  power  into  heat, 
of  electrical  power  into  magnetism ;  of  electrical 
power  into  chemical  power ;  then  of  magnetism  into 
heat,  of  magnetism  into  chemical  power,  and  of  mag- 
netism into  electricity  ;  then  of  heat  into  magnetism. 
His  notes  continue  thus  :  '  This  relation  is  probably  still 
more  extended  and  inclusive  of  aggregation,  for  as  ele- 
ments change  in  these  relations  they  change  in  those. 
Experiments  :  sub-carb.  of  potass  and  muriate  of  lime, 
solid;  nitrate  of  ammonia  and  Glauber-salt,  liquid. 
And  even  gravitation  may  perhaps  be  included.  For 
as  the  local  attraction  of  chemical  affinity  becomes 
attraction  at  a  distance  in  the  form  of  electricity  and 
magnetism,  so  gravitation  itself  may  be  only  another 
form  of  the  same  power.'  In  1853,  Faraday  marked 
these  notes  and  experiments  with  his  initials,  and  added  : 
4  Correlation  of  physical  forces.'  Mr.  Grove's  lecture 
at  the  London  Institution  was  in  1842  ;  Faraday's  at 
the  Eoyal  Institution,  June  21,  1834. 

He  gave  four  Friday  discourses,  the  first  on  the 
principle  and  action  of  Ericsson's  caloric  engine.  At 
the  end  of  his  notes  of  this  lecture,  he  says :  *  Must 
always  work  practically;  never  give  a  final  opinion 
except  on  that.'  The  other  lectures  were  on  Electro- 
chemical Decomposition ;  on  the  definite  action  of 
Electricity  ;  and  on  new  applications  of  the  products  of 
Caoutchouc. 

In  addition  to  his  Eoyal  Society  Papers  and  his 
Institution  Lectures,  he  published  a  paper  in  the  'Edin- 
burgh New  Philosophical  Journal,'  in  1833,  on  the 
Planarise,  and,  in  the  same  year,  another  in  the  '  Philo- 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  49 

sophical   Magazine,'    on    a    means   of  preparing    the  1832-34. 
Organs   of  Eespiration  so  as  considerably  to  extend  jEx.40-43. 
the  time  of  holding  the  breath,  with  remarks  on  its 
application  in  cases  in  which  it  is  required  to  enter 
an  irrespirable   atmosphere,   and   on  the  precautions 
necessary  to  be  observed  in  such  cases. 

In  1832  he  published,  in  the  i  Philosophical  Maga- 
zine,' notes  on  Signor  Kobili's  paper,  and  also  on  Signor 
Negri's  magneto-electric  experiments ;  and  in  1834  a 
paper  on  the  magneto-electric  spark  and  shock,  and  on 
a  peculiar  condition  of  electric  and  magneto-electric 
conduction. 

II. 

His  reputation  shows  itself  in  the  titles  and  appoint- 
ments which  he  received.  In  1832  he  was  made  Hon. 
Member  of  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  ;  and  of 
the  Chemical  and  Physical  Society,  Paris ;  Fellow  of 
the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Boston ; 
Member  of  the  Eoyal  Society  of  Sciences,  Copenhagen  ; 
D.C.L.  of  Oxford  University ;  and  he  received  the 
Copley  medal  from  the  Royal  Society. 

Regarding  his  degree  at  Oxford  Dr.  Daubeny  wrote 
i  to  him  : — 

'My  dear  Sir,— -There  has  been  some  talk  amongst  the 
friends  of  science  in  this  University  about  soliciting  the 
Heads  of  Colleges  to  propose  Honorary  Degrees  for  a 
few  of  the  most  distinguished  persons  who  are  expected 
here  at  the  approaching  meeting  (of  the  British  Associa- 
tion) ;  but  before  a  list  is  made  out  we  are  desirous  of 
ascertaining  whether  we  are  to  expect  the  pleasure  of 
your  attendance  during  any  part  of  the  time,  and 

VOL.  II.  E 


60  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1832-34.  whether  such  a  mark  of  distinction  would  be  acceptable 
jET.40-43.  to  you,  as  well  as  gratifying  to  the  body  who  would 
confer  this  mark  of  their  consideration. 

'  I  cannot  help  flattering  myself  that  as  when  I  last 
saw  you  you  told  me  you  had  not  entirely  given  up 
the  intention  of  coming,  the  circumstance  I  have  stated 
may  decide  you  in  favour  of  being  here,  and  that  you 
would  value  this  tribute  to  your  services  to  science  the 
more  as  coming  from  a  body  of  men  by  whom  such 
honours  to  men  of  science  have  hitherto  been  but 
rarely  paid. 

'  Pray  inform  me  in  the  course  of  the  week  whether 
in  the  event  of  your  honorary  degree  of  D.C.L.  being 
determined  on,  we  may  reckon  on  your  attendance  for 
a  day  or  two  days  in  the  week  of  meeting. 
'  And  believe  me,  yours  very  truly, 

'  CHARLES  DAUBENY.' 

In  1832,  in  December,  the  Eoyal  Institution  being 
in  trouble,  a  committee  reported  on  all  the  salaries. 
4  The  Committee  are  certainly  of  opinion  that  no  reduc- 
tion can  be  made  in  Mr.  Faraday's  salary,  100/.  per 
annum,  house,  coals,  and  candles ;  and  beg  to  express 
their  regret  that  the  circumstances  of  the  Institution 
are  not  such  as  to  justify  their  proposing  such  an  in- 
crease of  it  as  the  variety  of  duties  which  Mr.  Faraday 
has  to  perform,  and  the  zeal  and  ability  with  which  he 
performs  them,  appear  to  merit.' 

In  1833,  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  year,  Mr.  Fuller 
had  founded  a  professorship  of  chemistry  at  the  Eoyal 
Institution,  with  a  salary  of  about  100/.  a  year.  Mr. 
Faraday  was  appointed  for  his  life,  with  the  privilege 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD  OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  51 

of  giving  no  lectures.     He  was  made  Corresponding     1833 
Member  of  the  Eoyal  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Berlin,  ^l£ 
and  Hon.  Member  of  the  Hull  Philosophical  Society. 

In  1834  he  was  made  Foreign  Corresponding  Member 
of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  and  Literature  of  Palermo. 

^  The  following  letters  from  a  French,  a  Dutch,  and  a 
German  correspondent  will  show  how  his  reputation 
was  rising  abroad. 

M.    HACHETTE   TO   FARADAY. 

Paris :  30  aout  1833. 

'Monsieur  et  tres-cher  Confrere, — Ayant  fait  un 
petit  voyage  vers  ma  ville  natale  (Mezieres,  Ardennes), 
j'ai  trouve  a  mon  retour  votre  lettre  du  17  juin  et  la 
troisieme  serie  de  vos  recherches  electriques,  qui  sera 
bientot  suivie  d'une  quatrieme  serie.  En  lisant  la 
derniere  page  (64)  de  votre  memoire  sur  la  troisieme 
serie,  j'ai  remarque  ces  mots:  « My  first  unfortunate 
letter  to  M.  Hachette"  Je  vous  avoue  que  je  ne  puis 
coucevoir  rien  de  malheureux  dans  1'annonce  d'une 
decouverte  qui  vous  place  au  rang  des  plus  heureux  des 
grands 'physiciens. 

'Supposez  pour  un  moment  qu'un  rnembre  de  la 
Socie'te  Eoyale  ait  fait  part  de  votre  lecture  dans  une 
lettre  particuliere,  que  cette  lettre  soit  tornbee  par 
hasard  entre  les  mains  d'un  physicien  qui  aurait  repete 
vos  experiences  et  qui  aurait  la  prevention  de  les  avoir 
inventees.  Vous  pourriez  alors  dire,  «  Oh,  unfortunate 
letter  I "  Tout  le  contraire  arrive  ;  vous  annoncez  une 
grande  decouverte  a  la  Societe  Eoyale  ;  elle  est  trans- 
mise  de  suite  k  Paris  en  votre  nom  ;  toute  la  gloire  de 


E   2 


52  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1833.  I'inventeur  vous  est  assuree.  Que  pouvez-vous  desirer 
JET.41-42.  de  plus  ? — que  personne  ne  travaille  dans  la  mine  que 
vous  aviez  ouverte  ?  cela  est  impossible.  L'excellence 
de  votre  decouverte  est  en  raison  des  efforts  que  chaque 
physicien  fera  pour  1'etendre.  Ne  lisez-vous  pas  avec 
plaisir  la  feuille  du  journal  fra^ais,  "  Le  Temps,"  qui 
chaque  mercredi  donne  la  seance  de  1' Academic  des 
Sciences  du  lundi  precedent  ?  Y  a-t-il  un  academicien 
fran9ais  qui  se  plaigne  de  cette  prompte  communica- 
tion ?  Non  ;  c'est  le  contraire.  Les  routes  en  fer  ne 
donnent  pas  encore  aux  nouvelles  scientifiques  la  vitesse 
de  la  pensee,  et  sous  ce  rapport  elles  sont  encore  tres- 
imparfaites. 

'  Je  ne  me  pardonnerais  pas  si  j'avais  k  me  reprocher 
une  communication  qui  aurait  ete  pour  vous  la  cause 
d'un  vrai  rnalheur ;  mais  permettez-moi  de  vous  dire 
qu'en  cette  circonstance  le  malheur  n'est  que  dans  votre 
imagination.  Je  crois  avoir  contribue  a  etendre  votre 
gloire,  votre  renomniee,  a  vous  rendre  la  justice  qui 
vous  est  due,  et  je  m'en  felicite.  J'espere  que  vous 
partagerez  mes  sentiments. 

*  Agreez  1'assurance  de  mon  bien-sincere  attachement. 

'  HACHETTE.' 

Professor  Mohl  gives  an  account  of  the  first  electric 
telegraph  in  Germany,  in  the  letter  in  which  he  states 
his  opinion  of  the  value  of  Faraday's  researches. 

PROFESSOR   MOHL    TO   FARADAY. 

'Utrecht:  November  15,  1833. 

'  I  made  an  excursion  to  Germany,  and  visited  the 
celebrated  University  of  Gottingen. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD  OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  53 

'  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  lectures  of  old  Blumenbach 
would  scarcely  draw  an  audience  to  the  lecture-room 
of  a  mechanics'  institution.  Their  library,  however, 
it  must  be  said,  is  excellent,  and  challenges,  as  far  as 
usefulness  is  concerned,  any  other  in  existence.  Gauss 
has  got  up  a  veiy  neat  apparatus,  a  sort  of  magnetic 
telegraph.  Two  bar-magnets  of  a  pound  weight  are  sus- 
pended in  different  places  at  a  distance  of  about  one  and 
a  half  mile  (English),  each  has  wires  coiled  round  but 
not  touching  them ;  these  wires  communicate  through 
the  open  air  over  roofs  and  steeples,  and  the  action  of 
a  couple  of  galvanic  plates  in  one  place  gives  motion 
to  the  magnet  placed  at  the  distance  of  one  and  a  half 
mile.  The  thing,  at  any  rate,  is  very  curious. 

'  I  have  read  with  great  pleasure  your  new  series  of 
experiments.  They  are  sure  to  carry  your  name  down 
to  posterity,  as  long  as  there  will  be  anything  existing 
like  science.' 

BARON   HUMBOLDT   TO   FARADAY. 

'Berlin:  28  mai  1834. 

4  Monsieur, — Une  predilection  qui  date  de  bien  loin 
me  ramene  sans  cesse  aux  admirables  decouvertes  dont 
vous  avez  enrichi  les  sciences  physiques.  Votre  me- 
moire  sur  1'identite  des  pretendus  differents  genres 
d'electricite  («  Phil.  Trans."  for  1833,  Part  I.  p.  47), 
memoire  remarquable  par  1'esprit  philosophique  qui  1'a 
dicte,  m'a  encore  occupe  ces  derniers  jours,  et  j'y  trouve 
quelques  doutes  sur  les  apparences  lumineuses  que 
Walsh  et  Ingenhauss  assurent  avoir  observees.  Vous 
avez  fait  d'inutiles  recherches  pour  trouver  oil  ces  ob- 
servations et  celles  de  Fahlberg,  qui  a  vu  des  etincelles 
semblables  a  la  decharge  d'une  bouteille  de  Leyde  (une 


54  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1834.  ^  vive  lumiere)  se  trouvent  consignees  ?   Je  suis  heureux 

*~MT.*2.'  de  pouvoir  les  indiquer Je  repete  que  dans  les 

experiences  que  j'ai  faites  sur  les  gymnotes  en  Ame- 
rique  et  k  Paris,  oil  1'animal  n'a  vecu  que  quelques 
jours,  je  n'ai  pu  voir  ces  etincelles  dont  Ingenhauss 
a  ete  le  temoin.  Je  n'ai  pas  non  plus  vu  le  poisson 
lancer  le  coup  de  loin  k  travers  des  couches  d'eau 
pour  tuer  des  poissons  qu'il  voulait  avaler,  ce  qui  in- 
diquerait  une  tension  electrique  d'une  force  extreme. 
Ce  dernier  fait  a  ete  vu  souvent  en  Suede  par  Fahl- 
berg.  .Malgre  le  beau  travail  de  M.  le  docteur  Davy 
sur  les  torpilles,  il  serait  bien  k  desirer  que  votre  So- 
ciete  Eoyale  fit  venir  k  Londres  des  gymnotes  vivants 
(six  ou  huit  au  moins),  assez  faciles  a  transporter  dans 
la  courte  navigation  de  la  Guyane  en  Angleterre.  Je 
suis  persuade  qu'avec  les  connaissances  electro- magne- 
tiques  et  physiologiques  que  nous  possedons  aujourd'hui, 
1'etude  des  phenomenes  du  gymnote  devrait  repandre 
une  vive  lumiere  sur  les  fonctions  des  nerfs  et  de 
mouvement  musculaire  dans  I'homme. 

'  J'ai  dejk  observe  qu'en  coupant  un  gymnote  en 
deux  portions,  il  n'y  a  que  celle  oil  jetrouve  le  cerveau 
et  le  coeur  qui  continue  a  donner  des  coups  electriques 
("  Voyage,"  t.  ii.  p.  182).  L'organe  electrique  n'agit  que 
sous  1'influence  immediate  du  cerveau  (et  du  coeur?). 
Un  des  plus  grands  mysteres  physiologiques  me  parait 
etre  la  ligature  d'un  nerf.  Je  suis  de  nouveau  occupe 
d' experiences  galvaniques  sur  les  effets  de  la  ligature 
lorsque  le  nerf  (c'est-a-dire  le  faisceau  de  fibres  medul- 
laires  que  nous  appelons  nerf)  a  ete  lacere.  La  liga- 
ture n'a  jamais  ete  essayee  dans  un  gymnote — je  veux 
dire  la  ligature  de  1'organe  electrique. 

'  Je  vous  supplie,  monsieur,  de  pardonner  1'ennui  de 
ces  lignes,  et  d'agreer  1'hommage  de  la  haute  et  respec- 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  55 

tueuse  consideration  qui  est  due  k  vos  travaux  et  a.     1834. 
votre  noble  devouement  pour  les  sciences.  JET.  42. 

'  Yotre  tres-humble  et  tres-obeissant  serviteur, 

'  LE  BARON  DE  HUMBOLDT.' 

III. 

But  few  marks  of  his  nature  during  1832,  1833, 
and  1834  remain. 

In  1832  he  collected  and  bound  together  the  different 
papers,  notes,  notices,  &c.,  published  in  octavo  up  to  this 
year,  and  he  added  this  very  characteristic  preface  : — 

'  Papers  of  mine  published  in  octavo  in  the  "  Quar- 
terly Journal  of  Science"  and  elsewhere,  since  the 
time  that  Sir  H.  Davy  encouraged  me  to  write  the 
"  Analysis  of  Caustic  Lime."  Some  I  think  (at  this 
date)  are  good,  others  moderate,  and  some  bad.  But  I 
have  put  all  into  the  volume,  because  of  the  utility 
they  have  been  to  me,  and  none  more  than  the  bad,  in 
pointing  out  to  me  in  future,  or  rather  after  times,  the 
faults  it  became  me  to  watch  and  avoid.  As  I  never 
looked  over  one  of  my  papers  a  year  after  it  was 
written  without  believing,  both  in  philosophy  and 
manner,  it  would  have  been  much  better  done,  I  still 
hope  this  collection  may  be  of  great  use  to  me.' 

The  kind  words  with  which  he  encouraged  a  youth 
of  twenty- two  years  of  age,  who  sent  him  some 
scientific  work,  is  seen  in  a  letter  to  Matteucci,  who 
was  then  living  in  his  native  place,  Forli. 

FARADAY   TO  C.  MATTEUCCI. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  October  1,  1833. 

'  Sir, — I  am  very  much  your  debtor  for  your  kindness 
in  sending  me  your  papers  and  for  your  good  opinion. 


56  LIFE   OP  FARADAY. 

1835.     All  such  marks  of  goodwill  are  stimuli  to  me,  urging 
jET.43-44.  me  still  forward  in  the  course  which  has  obtained  such 
commendation. 

*  Being  convinced  you  cannot  refrain  from  pursuing 
science  by  experiment,  I  need  not  express  a  hope  that 
you  will  do  so  manfully.  No  man  of  judgment  can 
work  without  succeeding,  and  you  are  not  likely  to 
leave  a  course  which  has  already  made  your  name 
known  throughout  the  European  Continent. 

4  Ever  your  obedient  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  year  1835  is  remarkable  in  Faraday's  life,  not  so 
much  for  the  work  he  did,  or  for  the  marks  of  the 
reputation  he  had  gained,  as  for  the  character  which 
he  showed  in  refusing  and  in  accepting  a  pension  from 
the  Prime  Minister. 

I. 

On  April  20  Sir  James  South  wrote  to  him  to  say 
that  he  would  have  a  letter  from  Sir  Eobert  Peel 
acquainting  him  with  the  fact  that,  had  Sir  E.  Peel 
remained  in  office,  a  pension  would  have  been  given 
him.  On  the  23rd  he  wrote  to  Sir  James  South,  '  I 
hope  you  will  not  think  that  I  am  unconscious  of  the 
good  you  meant  me,  or  undervalue  your  great  exertions 
for  me,  when  I  say  that  I  cannot  accept  a  pension 
whilst  I  am  able  to  work  for  my  living.  Do  not  from 
this  draw  any  sudden  conclusion  that  my  opinions  are 
such  and  such.  I  think  that  Government  is  right  in 
rewarding  and  sustaining  science.  I  am  willing  to 
think,  since  such  approbation  has  been  intended  me, 
that  my  humble  exertions  have  been  worthy,  and  I 
think  that  scientific  men  are  not  wrong  in  accepting 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  57 

the  pensions  ;  but  still  I  may  not  take  a  pay  which  is  1835. 
not  for  services  performed  whilst  I  am  able  to  live  by  JE-T.  44. 
my  labours.' 

Changing  his  opinion  in  consequence  of  the  judgment 
of  his  father-in-law,  for  which  he  had  the  highest 
regard  and  respect,  Faraday  sent  another  letter  in  the 
place  of  this.  It  contained  a  less  decisive  refusal.  He 
heard  no  more  of  the  pension  until  October  26,  when 
he  was  asked  to  wait  upon  Lord  Melbourne,  who  was 
then  Prime  Minister,  at  the  Treasury.  A  conversation 
took  place,  in  which  Lord  Melbourne  says  he  expressed 
himself  '  certainly  in  an  imperfect  and  perhaps  in  too 
blunt  and  inconsiderate  a  manner.'  It  is  probable  that 
he  also  said  that  he  looked  upon  the  whole  system  of 
giving  pensions  to  literary  and  scientific  persons  as  a 
piece  of  humbug. 

The  same  evening  (that  is,  the  day  of  the  conversa- 
tion) Faraday  left  this  note,  with  his  card,  at  Lord 
Melbourne's  office. 

'  TO    THE    RIGHT   HON.  LORD  VISCOUNT  MELBOURNE,  FIRST 
LORD  OF  THE  TREASURY. 

'  October  26. 

'  My  Lord, — The  conversation  with  which  your  Lord- 
ship honoured  me  this  afternoon,  including,  as  it  did, 
your  Lordship's  opinion  of  the  general  character  of  the 
pensions  given  of  late  to  scientific  persons,  induces  me 
respectfully  to  decline  the  favour  which  I  believe  your 
Lordship  intends  for  me ;  for  I  feel  that  I  could  not, 
with  satisfaction  to  myself,  accept  at  your  Lordship's 
hands  that  which,  though  it  has  the  form  of  approba- 
tion, is  of  the  character  which  your  Lordship  so  pithily 
applied  to  it.' 

Sir  James   South   lived  near  Holland  House,  and 


58  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  occasionally  lie  saw  Miss  Fox  and  others  in  his  observa- 
^  JET.  44.  tory,  and  from  thence  probably  the  suggestion  to  Lord 
Melbourne  of  a  pension  to  Faraday  originally  pro- 
ceeded. When  Faraday  refused  the  offer,  he  explained 
why  he  did  so  to  Sir  James  South,  and  through  him  to 
Miss  Fox.  This  he  did  on  November  6,  in  two  letters 
which  show  that  no  bad  temper  was  in  him.  To  Sir 
James  South  he  says,  '  I  hope  that  in  doing  what  was 
right  I  have  not  given  others  occasion  to  have  one  evil 
thought  of  me.  Since  I  first  knew  of  the  affair, 
nothing  has  been  nearer  to  my  mind  than  the  desire, 
whilst  I  preserved  my  self-respect,  to  give  no  one  occa- 
sion of  offence.'  To  Miss  Fox  he  says,  '  I  shall  never 
forget  that  what  you  know  of  me  thus  far  has  gained 
your  approbation,  and  it  will  be  doubly  my  desire 
henceforward  to  deserve  and  retain  it.' 

The  refusal  of  the  pension  became  known,  and  it 
even  reached  the  King,  and  it  pleased  him  to  remind 
his  Prime  Minister  of  it  whenever  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity. Perhaps  to  avoid  these  remarks,  and  perhaps 
for  other  reasons,  '  an  excellent  lady,  who  was  a  friend 
both  to  Faraday  and  the  Minister,  tried  to  arrange 
matters  between  them  ;  but  she  found  Faraday  very 
difficult  to  move  from  the  position  he  had  assumed. 
After  many  fruitless  efforts,  she  at  length  begged  of  him 
to  state  what  he  would  require  of  Lord  Melbourne  to 
induce  him  to  change  his  mind.  He  replied,  '  I  should 
require  from  his  Lordship  what  I  have  no  right  or  reason 
to  expect  that  he  would  grant — a  written  apology  for 
the  words  he  permitted  himself  to  use  to  me.' ' 


1  Dr.  Tyndall  uses  these  worcb  from  his  recollection  of  a  conversation 
with  Faraday. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  59 

A  letter  in  which  he  '  returns  his  heartfelt  thanks     1835. 
to  Lady  Mary  Fox  for  all  the  kindness  she  had  shown  HSH"' 
him,'  is  dated  the  day  previous  to  that  on  which  Lord 
Melbourne  wrote  the  following  letter : — 

LORD   MELBOURNE   TO   FARADAY. 

1  November  24. 

'  Sir, — It  was  with  much  concern  that  I  received 
your  letter  declining  the  offer  which  I  considered 
myself  to  have  made  in  the  interview  which  I  had  with 
you  in  Downing  Street ;  and  it  was  with  still  greater  pain 
that  I  collected  from  that  letter  that  your  determination 
was  founded  upon  the  certainly  imperfect,  and  perhaps 
too  blunt  and  inconsiderate  manner  in  which  I  had 
expressed  myself  in  our  conversation.  I  am  not  un- 
willing to  admit  that  anything  in  the  nature  of  censure 
upon  any  party  ought  to  have  been  abstained  from 
upon  such  an  occasion ;  but  I  can  assure  you  that  my 
observations  were  intended  only  to  guard  myself  against 
the  imputation  of  having  any  political  advantage  in 
view,  and  not  in  any  respect  to  apply  to  the  conduct  of 
those  who  had  or  hereafter  might  avail  themselves  of  a 
similar  offer.  I  intended  to  convey  that,  although  I 
did  not  entirely  approve  of  the  motives  which  appeared 
to  me  to  have  dictated  some  recent  grants,  yet  that 
your  scientific  character  was  so  eminent  and  unques- 
tionable as  entirely  to  do  away  with  any  objection  which 
I  might  otherwise  have  felt,  and  to  render  it  impossible 
that  a  distinction  so  bestowed  could  be  ascribed  to  any 
other  motive  than  a  desire  to  reward  acknowledged 
desert  and  to  advance  the  interest  of  philosophy. 

'  I  cannot  help  entertaining  a  hope  that  this  expla- 
nation may  be  sufficient  to  remove  any  unpleasant  or 


60  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1835.  unfavourable  impression  which  may  have  been  left 
^T^T  upon  your  mind,  and  that  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction 
of  receiving  your  consent  to  my  advising  His  Majesty  to 
grant  to  you  a  pension  equal  in  amount  to  that  which 
has  been  conferred  upon  Professor  Airy  and  other 
persons  of  distinction  in  science  and  literature.' 

The  same  day  Faraday  wrote: — 'My  Lord,  your 
Lordship's  letter,  which  I  have  just  had  the  honour  to 
receive,  has  occasioned  me  both  pain  and  pleasure — 
pain,  because  I  should  have  been  the  cause  of  your 
Lordship's  writing  such  an  one,  and  pleasure,  because 
it  assures  me  that  I  am  not  unworthy  of  your  Lord- 
ship's regard. 

4  As,  then,  your  Lordship  feels  that,  by  conferring  on 
me  the  mark  of  approbation  hinted  at  in  your  letter, 
you  will  be  at  once  discharging  your  duty  as  First 
Minister  of  the  Crown,  and  performing  an  act  conso- 
nant with  your  own  kind  feelings,  I  hesitate  not  to  say 
I  shall  receive  your  Lordship's  offer  both  with  pleasure 
and  with  pride.' 

This  gentle  letter  should  have  brought  this  affair  of 
the  pension  to  an  end,  but  unfortunately  four  days 
afterwards  an  account  full  of  error  respecting  the  con- 
versation between  Lord  Melbourne  and  Faraday  was 
published  in  the  l  Times '  of  Saturday,  November  28, 
under  the  head  of  '  Tory  and  Whig  patronage  to 
Science  and  Literature.' 

It  was  copied  from  '  Fraser's  Magazine  : ' — 

'  Mr.  F.  I  am  here,  my  Lord,  by  your  desire ;  am  I 
to  understand  that  it  is  on  the  business  which  I  have 
partially  discussed  with  Mr.  Young  ?  (Lord  M.'s  Secre- 
tary.) Lord  Melbourne.  You  mean  the  pension,  don't 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  61 

you?     Mr.  F.   Yes,  my  Lord.      Lord  M.  Yes,  you     1835. 
mean  the  pension,  and  I  mean  the  pension  too.     I  hate    JET.'  44. ' 
the   name    of  the   pension.     I  look  upon  the  whole 
system   of  giving   pensions   to  literary  and  scientific 
persons  as  a  piece  of  gross  humbug.     It  was  not  done 
for  any  good  purpose,  and  never  ought  to  have  been 
done.     It  is  a  gross  humbug  from  beginning  to  end. 
Mr.  F.  (rising  and  making  a  bow).     After  all  this,  my 
Lord,  I  perceive  that  my  business  with  your  Lordship 
is  ended.     I  wish  you  a  good  morning.' 

The  day  after  the  article  in  the  '  Times '  appeared, 
November  29,  Dr.  Holland  wrote  to  Faraday  at  the 
request  of  Lord  Melbourne,  to  say  that  the  King 
expressed  great  satisfaction  in  the  arrangement  made 
as  to  the  pension.  '  We  spoke  of  the  paper  which  has 
appeared  in  the  "  Times  ; "  he  begs  you  not  to  be  dis- 
quieted by  this  in  reference  to  him.  Though  regretting 
the  circumstance,  he  was  prepared  for  the  likelihood  of 
these  things  being  converted  to  party  purposes.'  He 
thought  it  best  that  no  public  notice  should  be  taken 
by  Faraday  of  the  paper. 

To  Lord  Holland,  however,  it  appeared  otherwise ; 
and  Faraday,  hearing  of  this  from  Dr.  Holland,  wrote 
to  Lord  Holland  to  say,  that  if  Lord  Melbourne  wishes 
it  '  Sir  James  South  with  Dr.  Holland  will  take  such 
steps  as  under  existing  circumstances  appear  to  be  most 
expedient.  Urged  by  Lord  Holland,  Dr.  Holland  then 
suggested  that  Faraday  should  write  a  very  brief  letter. 
Faraday  replies,  that  he  cannot  proceed  without  Sir 
James  South,  and  adds,  4  The  pension  is  a  matter  of 
indifference  to  me,  but  other  results,  some  of  whicli 
have  already  come  to  pass,  are  not  so.  The  continued 


62  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  renewal  of  this  affair,  to  my  mind,  tempts  me  at  times 
"^Er.TlT  to  what  might  be  thought  very  ungenerous  under  the 
circumstances — namely,  even  at  this  late  hour,  a  deter- 
mined refusal  of  the  whole.' 

The  next  day  Faraday  had  a  conversation  with  a 
gentleman  regarding  the  article  in  the  '  Times.'  An  ac- 
count of  this  was  published,  with  the  signature  '  T.E.  S.,' 
in  the  '  Chronicle '  for  December  8.  The  writer  says, '  I 
expressed  to  him  (Faraday)  my  total  disbelief  in  its 
correctness.  His  answer  was,  "I  am  glad  you  don't 
believe  it.  It  is  full  of  falsehood,  and  evidently  written 
for  a  factious  purpose.  You  have  my  authority  for 
saying  that." ' 

Six  days  after  this  talk,  Faraday  speaks  of  it  thus,  *  I 
cannot  now  recollect  whether  I  used  the  word  false- 
hood. I  had  thought  my  expressions  in  reference  to  this 
subject  over  beforehand,  and  had  used  the  phrase  "  full 
of  error  "  to  others.' 

The  '  Courier '  of  December  7,  in  a  leading  article 
upon  the  imaginary  conversation  published  in  the 
'  Times,'  said :  '  The  person  most  insulted  and  most 
injured  by  it  is  Mr.  Faraday,  who  will  be  suspected  by 
the  whole  kingdom,  unless  he  contradict  it  in  his  own 
name,  of  having  authorised  the  publication  and  supplied 
the  scanty  proportion  of  truth  which  was  woven  into 
the  web  of  fiction.  It  is  not  just  to  himself  to  allow  a 
whole  month  to  elapse  before  he  clears  himself  (in  the 
next  number  of  "  Fraser's  Magazine  ")  of  the  suspicions 
now  entertained.' 

Faraday  the  next  day  published  a  letter  in  the 
*  Times,'  in  which  he  says,  *  I  beg  leave  thus  publicly 
to  state  that  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  did  I  com- 
municate to  the  editor  of  "  Fraser's  Magazine "  the 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  63 

information  on  which  that  article  (an  extract  of  which     1835. 
was    published   in   the    "Times"   of  the   28th)   was  ' MT.U.* 
founded,  or  further,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  any 
information  to  or  for  any  publication  whatsoever.' 

On  December  12,  Miss  Fox  urges  him  to  make  a 
public  vindication  of  Lord  Melbourne.  To  this  he 
answers  the  same  day,  « I  am  persuaded  that  any  state- 
ment of  mine  in  the  public  papers  cannot  NOW  be 
attended  with  any  advantage  to  either  party.'  (The 
draft  of  this  letter  is  in  Sir  James  South's  handwriting.) 

The  pension  was  granted  on  December  24. 

On  the  30th,  Faraday  writes  to  Lord  Melbourne,  to 
ask  him  to  pass  a  box  of  scientific  things  through  the 
Custom  House.  Lord  Melbourne  says  in  his  answer, 
4 1  beg  to  return  you  my  thanks  for  your  willingness, 
expressed  through  Dr.  Holland,  to  contradict  any 
injurious  statements  in  the  public  prints.  The  best 
course  was  followed,  which  was  to  terminate  the  dis- 
cussion as  soon  as  possible.' 

At  the  end  of  January,  Faraday  writes  to  Miss  Fox, 
'  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  his  Lordship  (Lord  M.) 
expressed  his  approbation  of  the  course  pursued  on  a 
late  occasion  as  being  that  which  was  decidedly  the 
best.'  She  replies,  « You  must  allow  me  to  say  that  in  a 
case  where  an  unfair  impression  has  been  given  of  the 
conduct  of  a  man  of  such  a  character,  he  is  the  very 
last  person  to  be  consulted,  or  to  require  the  contradic- 
tion of  an  assertion  which  he  is  conscious  is  utterly 
undeserved ;  but  his  friends  probably  did  and  do  still 
think  otherwise.' 

In  1862,  in  the  Life  of  Sir  Charles  Bell,  an  account 
like  that  in  the  '  Times,'  of  the  interview  between  Lord 
Melbourne  and  Faraday,  was  about  to  be  published. 


64  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1835.     The  editor  asked  Faraday  if  lie  objected  to  the  pub- 
Mt.  43.    lication.     He  answered — 

TO   B.  BELL,  ESQ. 
<The  Green,  Hampton  Court:  August  27,  1862. 

'  Sir, — I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
kindness  in  sending  me  the  note  regarding  Lord  Mel- 
bourne and  my  pension.  I  cannot  assent  to  its  publi- 
cation. Lord  Melbourne  wrote  to  me  and  behaved 
very  handsomely  in  the  matter  ;  and  if  one  part  of  the 
affair  were  published  I  think  the  other  ought  to  be 
also.  But  it  was  the  desire  of  the  Minister  and  his 
friends  that  no  notice  should  be  taken  of  the  affair,  and 
therefore  I  did  not  consent  then  (and  cannot  now)  to 
any  partial  publication  of  the  circumstances.1 

'  I  am,  Sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Another  slight  indication  of  his  character  and 
opinions  is  seen  in  the  following  letter  to  his  friend 
Magrath.  It  is  the  only  record  that  remains  of  a  tour 
in  Switzerland  which  he  made  this  year. 

FARADAY   TO   MAGRATH. 

<  July  19, 1835. 

*  Dear  Magrath, — What  with  occupation,  fatigue, 
and  rheumatism,  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  write  to 
you,  but  must  redeem  my  promise  at  this  place  if  I  can, 
or  else  I  shall  be  at  Albemarle  Street,  and  then  have  no 
power  to  do  anything  but  listen  to  your  reproaches.  On 
the  whole  we  have  done  very  well :  what  we  have  seen 
we  have  enjoyed  very  much.  We  had  a  rough  passage 

1  To  avoid  any  partial  publication,  all  the  remaining  letters  regarding 
the  pension  are  given  in  the  Appendix  to  this  chapter.  See  p.  116. 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  C5 

to  Dieppe  from  Brighton,  so  rough  that  we  found  the  1835. 
French  people  wondering  that  we  had  ventured,  but  "Is^laT 
were  so  unhappy  in  our  sickness  as  to  be  quite  uncon- 
scious of  everything  else.  We  passed  through  Eouen 
to  Paris,  and  spent  eight  days  at  the  latter  place,  took 
up  Mr.  Barnard  there,  and  travelled  through  to  Geneva  ; 
there  we  stopped  three  or  four  days,  and  found  De  la 
Eive  and  our  friends  very  kind ;  and  then  left  for 
Chamouni,  where  stopping  two  days  we  had  time  to 
go  to  the  Montanvert,  the  Sea  of  Ice,  the  Flegere,  the 
Glacier  des  Bossons,  &c.,  and  see  all  we  wanted  to  see. 
We  got  to  Martigni  by  the  Tete  Noire,  and  were  quite 
satisfied  with  the  choice  of  passage.  From  Martigni  to 
Vevay  and  from  Vevay  to  this  place,  where  we  are  at 
present  date,  19th.  To-morrow  we  start  for  Berne,  and 
then  as  things  may  turn  up.  Now  you  will  see  that 
we  have  not  done  and  cannot  do  all  we  intended,  but 
I  do  not  know  that  that  much  matters. 

'  We  are  almost  surfeited  with  magnificent  scenery, 
and  for  myself  I  would  rather  not  see  it  than  see  it 
with  an  exhausted  appetite.  The  weather  has  been 
most  delightful,  and  everything  in  our  favour,  so  that 
the  scenery  has  been  in  the  most  beautiful  condition. 
Mont  Blanc,  above  all,  is  wonderful,  and  I  could  not 
but  feel  at  it  what  I  have  often  felt  before,  that  painting 
is  very  far  beneath  poetry  in  cases  of  high  expression  ; 
of  which  this  is  one.  No  artist  should  try  to  paint 
Mont  Blanc ;  it  is  utterly  out  of  his  reach.  He  cannot 
convey  an  idea  of  it,  and  a  formal  mass  or  a  common- 
place model  conveys  more  intelligence,  even  with 
respect  to  the  sublimity  of  the  mountain,  than  his 
highest  efforts  can  do.  In  fact,  he  must  be  able  to  dip 
his  brush  in  light  and  darkness  before  he  can  paint 

VOL.  II.  F 


GO  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.     Mont  Blanc.     Yet  the  moment  one  sees  it  Lord  Byron's 
"~J£T.  43.    expressions  come  to  mind,  as  they  seem  to  apply.    The 
poetry  and  the  subject  dignify  each  other. 

'  There  is  a  very  fine  iron  wire  bridge  here  above 
900  feet  in  span  and  suspended  at  a  great  height  over 
the  river  and  valley  beneath.  It  is  rough  in  finish,  but 
a  fine  work.  We  were  on  it  last  night,  a  fine  scene  of 
lightning  being  all  around  us,  and  the  effect  was  very 
beautiful. 

'  We  feel  that  we  are  now  on  our  road  home,  and  I 
think  we  shall  continue  right  on  in  our  course  and  be  at 
home  about  August  1,  but  I  cannot  tell  to  a  day  or 
two  because  of  the  uncertainty  about  steam-boats  to 
England,  and  because  of  the  difficulty  of  choosing 
either  Holland  or  Belgium  at  pleasure  as  our  route. 
But  I  dare  say  that,  thanks  to  your  kindness,  I  shall  find 
help  at  Frankfort  in  Mr.  Koch,  as  I  did  in  Paris  in 
M.  Feuillet,  who  desires  his  remembrances  to  you. 
For  the  present  farewell.  Yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

II. 

The  scientific  work  of  the  year  is  seen  in  his 
papers,  his  notes,  and  his  publications  and  lectures. 
He  sent  a  paper  on  an  improved  form  of  the  voltaic 
battery  to  the  Eoyal  Society.  It  formed  the  tenth 
series  of  his  '  Eesearches.'  The  experimental  work  for 
this  paper  was  chiefly  done  in  the  previous  year.  '  On 
examining,'  he  says,  '  however,  what  had  been  done 
before,  I  found  that  the  new  trough  was  in  all  essen- 
tial respects  the  same  as  that  invented  and  described 
by  Dr.  Hare,  Professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  whom  I  have  great  pleasure  in  referring  it.' 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  67 

January  16th,  he  '  resumed  the  investigation  of  fluo-      1835. 
rine,  &c.'    On  February  19  he  'arranged  an  electro-  jEi.43-44. 
lytic  platinum  retort  for  the  decomposition  of  fluoride 
of  lead.'     But  when  in  action  there  were  no  signs  of 
free  fluorine  anywhere ;  and  all  February  he  worked 
with  no  result  except  finding  that  hot  fluoride  of  lead 
conducts  freely  without  decomposition. 

In  April  he  enters  some  queries  in  his  note-book ; 
one  of  these  runs  thus :  *  If  a  freezing  solution  be 
well  agitated  during  solidification — the  ice  ought  to 
give  pure  water.' 

On  his  return  from  Switzerland,  August  6,  his  first 
thoughts  are  on  electro-chemical  decomposition. 

On  the  llth  he  writes,  'Very  tired — cannot  get 
energies  up.' 

On  September  6  he  says,  'Rose  tells  me  that 
Berzelius  in  his  annual  account  objects  to  my  antimony 
proto-sulphuret,  and  I  am  therefore  hastened  to  its 
examination  the  first  thing  this  autumn,  having  meant 
to  defer  it  awhile  before  Eose  told  me  this.'  More 
accurate  experiments  showed  him  his  error,  and  he 
published  a  note  on  it  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine ' 
for  June  1836. 

By  September  25  he  is  again  at  fluorine. 

On  November  3  he  writes :  '  Have  been  thinking 
much  lately  of  the  relation  of  common  and  voltaic 
electricity,  of  induction  by  the  former  and  decomposi- 
tion by  the  latter,  and  am  quite  convinced  that  there 
must  be  the  closest  connection.  Will  be  first  needful 
to  make  out  the  true  character  of  ordinary  electrical 
phenomena.  The  following  notes  are  for  experiment 
and  consideration. 

'  Does  common  electricity  reside  upon  the  surface  of 

F   2 


68  LIFE   OF   FAKADAY. 

3835;  a  conductor  or  upon  the  surface  of  the  electric  in  con- 
Sri^wil..  tact  with  it? '  And  then  he  makes  many  pages  of  sugges- 
tions for  experiments. 

On  November  6  he  again  works  on  fluorine  ;  on  the 
9th  he  says :  '  It  is  scarcely  likely  that  iron,  nickel, 
cobalt,  and  chrome,  are  the  only  magnetic  bodies.  It 
is  far  more  likely  that  certain  temperatures  are  neces- 
sary for  the  effect,  and  that  these  bodies  are  on  the 
right  side  of  the  point  of  temperature  required  for 
each,  whilst  many  others  are  on  the  wrong  side.' 
And  later  in  the  month  he  makes  more  suggestions 
for  experiments  on  frictional  electricity. 

December  4th,  he  says,  '  I  cannot  go  on  at  present 
with  the  fluorine  experiments.' 

The  5th,  he  began  his  experiments  on  frictional  elec- 
tricity, conduction,  induction,  transfer,  &c.,  and  these 
he  continued  until  Christmas  Day.  The  26th,  he 
experiments  on  the  effect  of  low  temperature  on  lead, 
copper,  gold,  silver,  platina,  palladium,  tin,  cadmium, 
zinc,  plumbago,  bismuth,  antimony,  arsenic,  as  regards 
their  magnetic  power.  The  temperature  was  60°  or  70° 
below  zero. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  he  went  on  with 
his  experiments  on  induction,  &c. 

He  published  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine '  a 
reply  to  Dr.  John  Davy's  remarks  on  certain  statements 
contained  in  the  '  Eesearches.'  And  in  the  '  Proceedings' 
of  the  Eoyal  Society  an  account  of  the  water  of  the 
well  Zem  Zem. 

At  the  Eoyal  Institution,  in  May  and  June,  he 
gave  a  course  of  eight  lectures  on  the  chemical  and 
physical  properties  of  the  common  metals,  iron, 
gold,  platinum,  lead,  copper,  zinc,  mercury,  tin,  and 
silver. 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF    HIS   RESEARCHES.  69 

He  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  on  Electricity,     The     1835. 
course  was  the  same  as  that  in  1829.  JEr.i's-iV. 

He  gave  Friday  discourses  on  Melloni's  recent  dis- 
coveries on  radiant  heat ;  on  the  Induction  of  Electric 
currents  ;  on  the  manufacture  of  Pens  from  Quills  and 
Sleel,  illustrated  by  Mordan's  machinery  ;  on  the  con- 
dition and  use  of  the  Tympanum  of  the  Ear.  He 
ended  his  notes  of  this  lecture  with  general  remarks 
on  the  relations  of  the  powers  of  matter  and  the  con- 
nection of  the  forces,  &c. 

This  year  he  drew  up  notes  for  a  new  course  of 
fourteen  lectures  on  electricity.  These  he  gave  as  part 
of  Mr.  Brande's  morning  course  for  the  medical  students 
of  St.  George's  Hospital.  In  his  ninth  lecture  he  said, 
'  It  is  most  essential  in  the  present  state  of  science  to 
understand  as  accurately  and  distinctly  as  possible  the 
true  relation  existing  between  the  chemical  generating 
force  and  the  chemical  decomposing  and  other  forces  of 
the  pile,  first  as  connected  with  the  question  of  metal- 
lic contact,  next  as  to  the  identity  of  electrical  and 
chemical  forces.'  Later  he  says,  '  All  tends  to  prove 
that  chemical  affinity  and  electricity  are  but  different 
names  for  the  same  power,  and  that  all  chemical  pheno- 
mena are  but  exhibitions  of  electrical  attractions.' 

He  ends  thus :  '  We  know  nothing  of  the  intimate 
nature  of  electricity,  whether  it  is  matter,  force,  vibra- 
tion, or  what.  Of  theories,  there  are  several ;  and  two 
principal  ones,  both  assuming  it  to  have  an  existence 
independent  of  ordinary  matter.' 


in. 

The  marks  of  his  reputation  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
honours  he  received  and  in  letters  from  Humboldt  and 


70  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  Melloni.  In  the  previous  year,  Faraday  had  brought 
JET.43-44.  the  great  discoveries  of  Melloni  on  Eadiant  Heat  before 
the  Council  of  the  Eoyal  Society.  The  Eumford 
Medal  was  in  consequence  awarded  to  Melloni ;  his 
letters  show  not  only  his  gratitude,  but  also  the  reputa- 
tion which  Faraday  possessed. 

This  year  he  was  made  Corresponding  Member  of 
the  Eoyal  Academy  of  Medicine,  Paris ;  Hon.  Member 
of  the  Eoyal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  of  the  Institution 
of  British  Architects,  and  of  the  Physical  Society  of 
Frankfort;  Hon.  Fellow  of  the  Medico-Chirurgical 
Society  of  London ;  and  he  was  awarded  one  of  the 
Eoyal  Medals  by  the  Eoyal  Society. 

BAKON   HUMBOLDT  TO   FARADAY. 

'Potsdam:  11  Janvier  1835. 

'  Monsieur, — Je  suis  bien,  bien  coupable,  monsieur, 
d'avoir  tarde  si  longtemps  k  vous  remercier  de  1'aimable 
accueil  que  vous  avez  fait  h  ma  priere  relative  aux 
gymnotes.  Ce  n'est  pas  autant  la  confusion  jetee  dans 
mes  travaux  par  un  voyage  que  j'ai  dft  faire  avec  le  Eoi 
k  Konigsberg-sur-mer,  ni  cette  conjonction  planetaire 
de  tous  les  princes  du  nord  dont  Berlin  a  ete  le  theatre, 
ni  un  bras  toujours  bien  malade  depuis  le  sejour  dans 
les  forets  humides  de  1'Orenoque  qui  m'ont  fait  tarder  ; 
c'est  1'espoir  que  j'avais  de  vous  faire  hommage,  mon- 
sieur, de  la  premiere  partie  de  mon  Cosmos  ("Physique  du 
Monde,"  essai  de  presenter  k  la  fois  les  phenomenes  des 
cieux  et  de  la  geographic  physique),  qui  de  mois  en 
mois  a  prolonge  mon  silence.  Je  crains  bien  que  vous 
ne  soyez  pas  initie^  dans  le  dedale  de  notre  langue  ger- 
manico-indico-pe"lagique  ;  cependantje  tienstrop  aTes- 


LETTERS   DURING   THE  FIRST   PERIOD   OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  71 

poir  de  placer  dans  votre  bibliotheque  le  livre  auquel     1835. 
je  mets  Je  plus  d'importance,  parce  qu'en  peu  de  pages  JEr.43^44. 
il  devrait  offrir  le  plus  de  faits,  pour  que  je  re"siste  k  la 
tentation.     Des  que  la  premiere  partie  sera  imprimee, 
j'aurai  1'honneur  de  vous  en  adresser  un  exemplaire  par 
la  voie  du  Baron  de  Bulow,  ministre  de  Prusse  k  Lon- 
dres,  gendre  de  mon  frere  aine.     C'est  par  la  meme 
legation  que  je  vous  offre  aujourd'hui  un  beau  groupe 
de  ces  cristaux  de  feldspath  qui  ont  pris  naissance,  pour 
ainsi  dire,  sous  nos  yeux. 

'  Agreez,  je  vous  supplie,  1'liommage  de  ma  vive 
reconnaissance  pour  les  demarches  que  vous  avez  faites 
pour  obtenir  les  gymnotes.  Apres  les  grandes  et  ad- 
mirables  decouvertes  que  nous  devons  a  votre  sagacite, 
monsieur,  la  Societe  Eoyale  saura  profiter  des  pheno- 
menes  etonnants  qu'offre  1'organisation  animale  dans  sa 
plus  puissante  action  au  dehors. 

'  Les  gymnotes  communs  dans  les  Llanos  de  Caracas 
(pres  de  Calebaze),  dans  toutes  les  petitos  rivieres  qui 
vont  k  1'Orenoque,  dans  les  Guyanes  anglaise,  francaise, 
et  hollandaise,  ne  sont  pas  d'un  transport  difficile. 
Nous  les  avons  perdus  sitot  h  Paris  parce  qu'on  les  a 
trop  fatigues  des  leur  arrivee.  A  Stockholm,  chez  MM. 
Norderling  et  Fahlberg,  ils  ont  vecu  quatre  mois. 
Je  conseillerais  de  les  transporter  de  Surinam,  d'Esse- 
quibo,  Demerary,  Cayenne,  en  etc,  car  les  gymnotes 
vivent  dans  leur  pays  natal  dans  des  eaux  de  25°. 
II  y  en  a  qui  ont  cinq  pieds  de  long.  Je  conseillerais 
d'en  choisir  de  vingt-sept  a  vingt-huit  pouces.  Leur 
force  varie  avec  la  nourriture  et  le  repos.  Ils  man- 
gent,  ayant  1'estomac  tres-petit,  peu  et  souvent,  de  la 
viande  cuite  non  sale"e,  de  petits  poissons,  meme  du 
pain.  II  faut  essayer  leur  force  et  le  genre  de  nour- 


72  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  riture  avant  de  les  embarquer,  et  ne  prendre  que 
^x.43-44.  des  poissons  deja  accouturaes  a  la  prison.  Je  les  ai 
terms  dans  un  baquet  long  de  quatre  pieds  et  de  seize 
pouces  de  large.  II  faut  changer  1'eau  (douce)  tous  les 
trois  ou  quatre  jours,  et  ne  pas  empecher  le  poisson  de 
venir  h  la  surface,  car  il  aime  k  sentir  1'air.  Un  filet 
doit  entourer  le  baquet.  Le  gymnote  s'elance  volon- 
tiers  hors  de  1'eau.  Voila  tous  les  conseils  que  je 
saurais  donner.  II  est  important  surtout  de  ne  pas  trop 
tourmenter  I'animal :  il  s'epuise  par  les  frequentes 
explosions  electriques.  Plusieurs  gymnotes  peuvent  etre 
dans  un  menie  baquet.  Je  ne  connais  de  M.  Davy  que 
1'interessant  memoire  stir  la  torpille  et  sa  faculte  de  de- 
composer 1'eau  ("  Phil.  Trans."  1832,  Ptie.  II.  p.  259). 
Nous  ne  possedons  encore  ici  que  la  premiere  partie 
des  "Trans."  de  1834,  qui  renferment  vos  importants 
memoires  du  11  Janvier  et  du  13  fevrier  1834.  Quoi- 
que  nies  propres  travaux  de  la  chimie  pratique  tombent 
dans  le  monde  antediluvien,  je  n'en  suis  pas  moins 
attentif  aux  progres  d'une  science  a  laquelle  je  dois 
les  plus  douces  jouissances  intellectuelles.  Si  encore, 
1'hiver  passe,  j'ai  assiste  tous  les  matins  aux  cours  de 
M.  Mitscherlich,  qui  professe  de  la  maniere  la  plus 
distinguee,  c'etait  surtout  pour  voir  une  partie  de  ces 
belles  experiences  que  nous  devons  h  votre  sagacite, 
monsieur.  De  nouvelles  manieres  de  voir  necessitent 
sans  doute  une  nouvelle  nomenclature.  Ces  grands 
mots  de  positif  et  de  negatif  ont  fait  bien  du  mal, 
presque  autant  que  les  abus  des  mots  froid  et  chaud  en 
medecine,  chirurgie  et  matiere  medicale.  Votre  nomen- 
clature s'adapte  au  genie  des  langues  de  1'Europe 
latine.  Les  Fraii9ais  ne  se  revolterent  que  centre  les 
"  anions  "  et  les  "  ions."  Une  nomenclature  est  toujours 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS  RESEARCHES.  73 

bonne  lorsque,  comme  la  votre,  elle  etend  la  sphere  de      1835. 
nos  idees.  ^.43-44. 

4  Agreez,  je  vous  supplie,  monsieur,  1'expression  de 
la  haute  et  affectueuse  admiration  qui  vous  est  due  a 
tous  les  titres. 

'  Votre  tres-humble  et  tres-obeissant  serviteur, 

'ALEXANDRE   HlJMBOLDT. 

'  Je  desire  bien  que  M.  Davy  ait  traite  la  question 
de  1'action  de  la  torpille  dans  les  cas  oil  Ton  ne  forme 
pas  de  chaine.  Je  fais  allusion  h  des  experiences  que 
j'ai  faites  avec  M.  Gay-Lussac,  et  qui  ne  sont  bien 
developpees  que  dans  la  "  Eelat.  hist."  de  mon  voyage 
(torn.  ii.  chap.  vii.  p.  186).  Dans  1'etat  actuel  de  la 
science  il  sera  facile  k  cet  excellent  physicien  de  tran- 
cher  la  question  vitale  sur  la  mode  d'action.  Je  n'ai 
malheureusement  su  que  pour  quelques  heures  votre 
memoire  imprime  dans  le  "  Journal  of  Science  "  (no- 
vembre,  p.  334).  Ce  que  vous  exposez  sur  "  the  definite 
nature  "  des  decompositions  electro-chimiques  est  d'une 
haute  portee.  C'est  une  grande  loi  de  la  nature.' 

M.   MACEDOINE   MELLONI   TO   FARADAY. 

'Paris:  Ie4fev.  1835. 

'  Monsieur, — II  y  a  dans  la  vie  certains  evenements 
qui  causent  une  sensation  trop  vive  pour  pouvoir  s'ex- 
primer  d'une  maniere  convenable.  Tel  est  1'effet  qu'a 
produit  sur  moi  votre  noble  conduite  dans  1'afiaire  de 
la  Societe  Eoyale.  Ici  je  frequentais  des  academiciens 
puissants  qui  ne  cessaient  de  me  prodiguer  des  paroles 
dorees  ;  parmi  eux  il  s'en  trouvait  quelques-uns  aux- 
quels  j'avais  rendu  des  services,  et  plusieurs  qui  se 
disaient  mes  amis.  Ces  messieurs  voyaient  les  obstacles 


74  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  que  la  malignite  opposait  &  ma  carriere  scientifique. 
-ET.43-44.  Us  pouvaient  les  ecarter — je  dirai  plus,  ils  le  devaient ; 
car  c'etait  au  jugement  du  corps  savant  dont  ils  font 
partie  que  je  soumettais  le  fruit  de  mes  veillees ;  et, 
cependant,  la  justice  que  j'avais  le  droit  d'attendre  d'eux 
etait  indefiniment  prorogee  dans  la  seule  crainte  d'user 
leur  influence  aupres  des  mechants.  On  ne  pouvait 
nier  en  public  des  faits  evidents  et  connus  par  la  grande 
masse  des  philosophes  independants ;  il  fallait  done 
tacher  de  les  faire  oublier  par  un  silence  officiel. 
On  risquait  ainsi  d'etoufier  des  germes  qui  pouvaient 
devenir  feconds  pour  la  science ;  mais  qu'importe  ? 
Perisse  la  science  et  la  justice  plutot  que  nos  interets ! 
Voila  leur  devise. 

*  Et  vous,  monsieur,  qui  appartenez  k  une  societe  k 
laquelle  je  n'avais  rien  ofFert,  vous,  qui  me  connaissiez 
k  peine  de  nom,  vous  n'avez  pas  demande  si  j'avais 
des  ennemis  faibles  ou  puissants,  ni  calcule  quel  en  etait 
le  nombre  ;  mais  vous  avez  parle  pour  1'opprime  etran- 
ger,  pour  celui  qui  n'avait  pas  le  moindre  droit  k  tant 
de  bienveillance,  et  vos  paroles  ont  e"te  accueillies  favora- 
blement  par  des  collegues  consciencieux  I  Je  reconnais 
bien  Ik  des  hommes  dignes  de  leur  noble  mission,  les 
veritables  representants  de  la  science  d'un  pays  libre  et 
genereux.  Ailleurs  tout  est  egoisme  ou  deception. 

'  Que  mille  et  mille  graces  soient  rendues  en  mon 
nom  k  M.  Faraday  et  au  Conseil  de  la  Societe"  Eoyale. 
Je  n'y  saurais  aj  outer  autre  chose  pour  le  moment,  mais 
j 'attends  avec  impatience  1'occasion  de  montrer  par  des 
faits  les  sentiments  ineffagables  de  reconnaissance  qui 
sont  profondement  graves  dans  le  coeur  de 

4  Yotre  tout-devoue  serviteur  et  ami, 

MELLONI.' 


LETTERS  DURING  THE    FIRST  PERIOD   OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  75 

1835. 
M.  MACEDOINE   MELLONI   TO   FARADAY. 

'  Paris :  le  6  mars  1835. 

'  J'apprends  par  votre  derniere  que  Ton  vous  a  con- 
signe  la  medaille  de  Eumford,  et  que  vous  voudriez 
savoir  quelle  serait  la  voie  la  plus  convenable  de  me  la 
faire  parvenir. 

'  Quant  a  moi,  monsieur,  je  ne  puis  que  vous  remer- 
cier  de  la  peine  que  vous  vous  etes  donnee  de  repeter 
mes  dernieres  experiences  k  1'Institution  Eoyale ;  et, 
puisque  vous  prenez  tant  d'interet  dans  ce  qui  me 
regarde,  je  me  fais  un  veritable  plaisir  de  vous  annoncer 
que  MM.  Biot,  Poisson  et  Arago  ont  examine  mes 
resultats  dans  le  plus  grand  detail,  qu'ils  en  sont  enthou- 
siasmes,  et  que  le  premier  va  bient6t  en  faire  en  leur 
nom  un  rapport  extremement  favorable  k  1'Institut. 
Pour  cette  fois  la  chose  est  certaine;  dejk,  comme 
arrhes,  le  ministre  d'Instruction  publique  m'a  accorde 
une  somme  de  1200  francs  k  leur  sollicitation.  .  .  .  Je 
dois  de  la  reconnaissance  k  ces  messieurs,  et  j'en  aurais ; 
mais  mes  compatriotes  observent  que  tout  cela  arrive 
apres  le  prix  de  la  Societe"  Eoyale;  et  moi,  je  ne  puis 
m'empecher  de  reflechir  que  la  Societe"  Eoyale  n'aurait 
pas  pense  k  me  decerner  cette  recompense  sans  vos 
soins  et  votre  ami  tie.  .  .  .  Vous  voyez  done  que  je 
vous  dois  tout ;  aussi  rnon  coeur  est-il  profondement 
emu  toutes  les  fois  que  je  me  declare 

4  Votre  tres-devoue  et  tres-reconnaissant 

'MACE"DOINE  MELLONI.' 

In  1836,  1837,  and  1838,  the  life  of  Faraday  is  to 
be  seen  chiefly  in  his  work.  He  was  fully  occupied 


76  LIFE   OF   FARADAT. 

1836-38.  in  his  electrical  researches.     He  did  much  also  for  the 

^Ex.44-47,  Royal  Institution  by  his  lectures ;  and  he  undertook 

new  work  as  scientific  adviser  to  the  Trinity  House.    He 

received  many  honours,  and  his  correspondence  shows 

some  of  the  kindness  and  nobleness  of  his  character. 


His  laboratory  notes  show  the  mass  of  experiments 
which  he  made  during  1836  and  the  following  year  on 
the  induction,  conduction,  and  discharge  of  common 
electricity,  and  its  relation  to  voltaic  electricity.  Some 
of  his  entries  at  this  time  give  an  insight  into  the 
working  of  his  mind. 

February  1,  he  writes :  '  Is  evident  in  voltaic  battery 
with  its  tension  and  its  spark  that  chemical  action  is 
electricity.  Hence  also  electricity  is  chemical  action. 
Hence  electricity  of  rubbed  glass  should  be  chemical 
action.  Hence  chemical  tension  of  acid  and  amalga- 
mated zinc,  before  the  current  passes,  must  be  the  same 
as  rubbing  glass  and  amalgam,  or  rubbing  wax  and 
flannel,  in  its  origin.  Induction  of  battery  poles  or 
electrodes  in  an  experimental  decomposing  cell,  or  in 
the  air  with  a  spark,  must  be  the  same  force.  Hence 
glass  electricity  and  its  induction  up  to  the  spark  must 
be  the  same  force.'  &c. 

On  July  28,  under   Thermo-Electricity,  he  writes : 
;  Surely  the  converse  of  thermo-electricity  ought  to  be  ! 
obtained    experimentally.      Pass   current   through    a  j 
circuit  of  antimony  and  bismuth  or  through  the  com- 
pound instrument  of  Melloni.' 

On  August  3  he  writes  :  '  After  much  consideration 
(here  at  Ryde)  of  the  manner  in  which  the  electric 
forces  are  arranged  in  the  various  phenomena  gene- 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   ELECTRICAL    RESEARCHES.  77 

rally,  I  have  come  to  certain  conclusions  which  I  will  1837. 
endeavour  to  note  down  without  committing  myself  to  ^1.45-40, 
any  opinion  as  to  the  cause  of  electricity,  i.e.  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  power.  If  electricity  exist  independently 
of  matter,  then  I  think  that  the  hypothesis  of  one 
fluid  will  not  stand  against  that  of  two  fluids.  There 
are,  I  think,  evidently,  what  I  may  call  two  elements  of 
power  of  equal  force  and  acting  towards  each  other. 
These  may  conventionally  be  represented  by  oxygen 
and  hydrogen,  which  represent  them  in  the  voltaic 
battery.  But  these  powers  may  be  distinguished  only 
by  direction,  and  may  be  no  more  separate  than  the 
north  and  south  forces  in  the  elements  of  a  magnetic 
needle.  They  may  be  the  polar  points  of  the  forces 
originally  placed  in  the  particles  of  matter;  and  the 
description  of  the  current  as  an  axis  of  power  which 
I  have  formerly  given  suggests  some  similar  general 
impression  for  the  forces  of  quiescent  electricity.  Law 
of  electric  tension  might  do,  and  though  I  shall  use  the 
terms  positive  and  negative,  by  them  I  merely  mean 
the  termini  of  such  lines.' 

Throughout  the  whole  of  1837  the  experimental 
researches  were  continued,  and  on  November  30  he 
sent  the  result  of  upwards  of  two  years  of  hard  work 
to  the  Eoyal  Society.  It  forms  the  eleventh  series. 
The  twelfth  series  on  the  same  subject  he  sent  on 
January  11,  the  thirteenth  on  February  22,  and  the 
fourteenth  on  June  21,  1838. 

Dr.  Tyndall  gives  the  following  admirable  summary 
of  these  researches  : — 

'  His  first  great  paper  on  frictional  electricity  was 
sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society  on  November  30,  1837.  We 
here  find  him  face  to  face  with  an  idea  which  beset  his 


78  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1837.  mind  throughout  his  whole  subsequent  life, — the  idea 
jEr.46-46.  of  action  at  a  distance.  It  perplexed  and  bewildered 
him.  In  his  attempts  to  get  rid  of  this  perplexity  he 
was  often  unconsciously  rebelling  against  the  limita- 
tions of  the  intellect  itself.  He  loved  to  quote  Newton 
upon  this  point :  over  and  over  again  he  introduces 
his  memorable  words,  "  That  gravity  should  be  innate, 
inherent,  and  essential  to  matter,  so  that  one  body  may 
act  upon  another  at  a  distance  through  a  vacuum  and 
without  the  mediation  of  anything  else,  by  and  through 
which  this  action  and  force  may  be  conveyed  from  one 
to  another,  is  to  me  so  great  an  absurdity,  that  I  believe 
no  man  who  has  in  philosophical  matters  a  competent 
faculty  of  thinking  can  ever  fall  into  it.  Gravity  must 
be  caused  by  an  agent  acting  constantly  according  to 
certain  laws ;  but  whether  this  agent  be  material  or 
immaterial  I  have  left  to  the  consideration  of  my 
readers."  1 

*  Faraday  does  not  see  the  same  difficulty  in  his  con- 
tiguous particles.  And  yet  by  transferring  the  concep- 
tion from  masses  to  particles  we  simply  lessen,  size  and 
distance,  but  we  do  not  alter  the  quality  of  the  concep- 
tion. Whatever  difficulty  the  mind  experiences  in 
conceiving  of  action  at  sensible  distances,  besets  it  also 
when  it  attempts  to  conceive  of  action  at  insensible 
distances.  Still  the  investigation  of  the  point  whether 
electric  and  magnetic  effects  were  wrought  out  through 
the  intervention  of  contiguous  particles  or  not,  had  a 
physical  interest  altogether  apart  from  the  metaphysi- 
cal difficulty.  Faraday  grapples  with  the  subject  ex- 
perimentally. By  simple  intuition  he  sees  that  action 
at  a  distance  must  be  exerted  in  straight  lines.  Gravity, 

1  Newton's  third  letter  to  Bentley. 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OP   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  79 

he  knows,  will  not  turn  a  corner,  but  exerts  its  pull  1837. 
along  a  right  line ;  hence  his  aim  and  effort  to  ascertain  isT.45-46. 
whether  electric  action  ever  takes  place  in  curved  lines. 
This  once  proved,  it  would  follow  that  the  action  is 
carried  on  by  means  of  a  medium  surrounding  the 
electrified  bodies.  His  experiments  in  1837  reduced, 
in  his  opinion,  this  point  to  demonstration.  He  then 
found  that  he  could  electrify  by  induction  an  insulated 
sphere  placed  completely  in  the  shadow  of  a  body 
which  screened  it  from  direct  action.  He  pictured  the 
lines  of  electric  force  bending  round  the  edges  of  the 
screen,  and  reuniting  on  the  other  side  of  it ;  and  he 
proved  that  in  many  cases  the  augmentation  of  the 
distance  between  his  insulated  sphere  and  the  inducing 
body,  instead  of  lessening,  increased  the  charge  of  the 
sphere.  This  he  ascribed  to  the  coalescence  of  the 
lines  of  electric  force  at  some  distance  behind  the 
screen. 

'Faraday's  theoretic  views  on  this  subject  have  not 

received  general  acceptance,  but  they  drove  him  to 

i  experiment,   and   experiment   with    him   was   always 

prolific  of  results.     By  suitable  arrangements  he  places 

a  metallic   sphere   in  the  middle  of  a  large  hollow 

[sphere,  leaving  a  space  of  something  more  than  half 

an  inch  between  them.     The  interior  sphere  was  in- 

jsulated,  the  external  one  uninsulated.     To  the  former 

he  communicated  a  definite  charge  of  electricity.     It 

[acted  by  induction  upon  the  concave  surface  of  the 

latter,  and  he  examined  how  this  act  of  induction  was 

[affected  by  placing  insulators  of  various  kinds  between 

.he  two  spheres.     He  tried  gases,  liquids,  and  solids, 

out  the  solids  alone  gave  him  positive  results.     He 

onstructed  two  instruments  of  the  foregoing  descrip- 


80  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 

1837.     tion,  equal  in  size  and  similar  in  form.     The  interior 
JCT.is-46.  sphere  of  each  communicated  with  the  external  air  by 
a  brass  stem  ending  in  a  knob.     The  apparatus  was 
virtually  a  Ley  den  jar,  the  two  coatings  of  which  were 
the  two  spheres,  with  a  thick  and  variable  insulator 
between  them.     The  amount  of  charge  in  each  jar 
was  determined  by  bringing  a  proof-plane  into  contact 
with  its  knob,  and  measuring  by  a  torsion  balance  the 
charge  taken  away.     He  first  charged  one  of  his  in- 
struments, and  then  dividing  the  charge  with  the  other, 
found  that  when  air  intervened  in  both  cases,  the  charge 
was  equally  divided.     But  when  shell-lac,  sulphur,  or 
spermaceti  was  interposed  between  the  two  spheres  of 
one  jar,  while  air  occupied  this  interval  in  the  other, 
then  he  found  that  the  instrument  occupied  by  the 
"solid   dielectric''  took  more   than  half  the  original 
charge.     A  portion  of  the  charge  was  absorbed  in  the 
dielectric  itself.     The  electricity  took  time  to  penetrate 
the  dielectric.     Immediately  after  the  discharge  of  the 
apparatus  no  trace  of  electricity  was  found  upon  its 
knob.     But  after  a  time  electricity  was  found  there, 
the  charge  having  gradually  returned  from  the  dielec-  i 
trie  in  which  it  had  been  lodged.     Different  insulators  i 
possess  this  power  of  permitting  the  charge  to  enter  • 
them  in  different  degrees.     Faraday  figured  their  par- 
ticles as  polarised,  and  he  concluded  that  the  force 
of  induction  is  propagated  from  particle  to  particle  of 
the  dielectric  from  the  inner  sphere  to  the  outer  one. 
This  power  of  propagation  possessed  by  insulators  he 
calls  their  " Specific  Inductive  Capacity" 

'  Faraday  visualises  with  the  utmost  clearness  the 
state  of  his  contiguous  particles;  one  after  another 
they  become  charged,  each  succeeding  particle  depend- 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  81 

ing  for  its  charge  upon  its  predecessor.     And  now  he     1837. 

1  seeks  to  break  down  the  wall  of  partition  between  jEr.45-46*. 
conductors  and  insulators.  "  Can  we  not,"  he  says,  "  by 
a  gradual  chain  of  association  carry  up  discharge  from 
its  occurrence  in  air  through  spermaceti  and  water  to 
solutions,  and  then  on  to  chlorides,  oxides,  and  metals, 
without  any  essential  change  in  its  character  ?  "  Even 
copper,  he  urges,  offers  a  resistance  to  the  transmission 
of  electricity.  The  action  of  its  particles  differs  from 
those  of  an  insulator  only  in  degree.  They  are 
charged  like  the  particles  of  the  insulator,  but  they 

i  discharge  with  greater  ease  and  rapidity;  and  this 
rapidity  of  molecular  discharge  is  what  we  call  con- 
duction. Conduction  then  is  always  preceded  by 

'  atomic  induction ;  and  when  through  some  quality  of 
the  body,  which  Faraday  does  not  define,  the  atomic 
discharge  is  rendered  slow  and  difficult,  conduction 
passes  into  insulation. 

'  Though  they  are  often  obscure,  a  fine  vein  of  philo- 
sophic thought  runs  through  those  investigations.  The 
mind  of  the  philosopher  dwells  amid  those  agencies 

i  which  underlie  the  visible  phenomena  of  induction  and 

[  conduction ;  and  he  tries  by  the  strong  light  of  his 
magination  to  see  the  very  molecules  of  his  dielectrics, 
"t  would,  however,  be  easy  to  criticise  these  researches, 
?asy  to  show  the  looseness,  and  sometimes  the  inaccuracy, 
>f  the  phraseology  employed ;  but  this  critical  spirit 
;vill  get  little  good  out  of  Faraday.  Eather  let  those 
ivho  ponder  his  works  seek  to  realise  the  object  he  set 
Defore  him,  not  permitting  his  occasional  vagueness  to 
nterfere  with  their  appreciation  of  his  speculations. 
We  may  see  the  ripples,  and  eddies,  and  vortices  of  a 

VOL.  II.  G 


82  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1837-  flowing  stream,  without  being  able  to  resolve  all  these 
JHT.45-46.  motions  into  their  constituent  elements ;  and  so  it 
sometimes  strikes  me  that  Faraday  clearly  saw  the 
play  of  fluids  and  ethers  and  atoms,  though  his  previous 
training  did  not  enable  him  to  resolve  what  he  saw 
into  its  constituents,  or  describe  it  in  a  manner  satisfac- 
tory to  a  mind  versed  in  mechanics.  And  then  again 
occur,  I  confess,  dark  sayings,  difficult  to  be  understood, 
which  disturb  my  confidence  in  this  conclusion.  It 
must,  however,  always  be  remembered  that  he  works 
at  the  very  boundaries  of  our  knowledge,  and  that  his 
mind  habitually  dwells  in  the  "  boundless  contiguity  of 
shade  "  by  which  that  knowledge  is  surrounded. 

'  In  the  researches  now  under  review  the  ratio  of 
speculation  and  reasoning  to  experiment  is  far  higher 
than  in  any  of  Faraday's  previous  works.  Amid  much 
that  is  entangled  and  dark  we  have  flashes  of  wondrous 
insight  and  utterances  which  seem  less  the  product  of 
reasoning  than  of  revelation.  I  will  confine  myself 
here  to  one  example  of  this  divining  power : — By  his 
most  ingenious  device  of  a  rapidly  rotating  mirror, 
Wheatstone  had  proved  that  electricity  required  time 
to  pass  through  a  wire,  the  current  reaching  the  middle 
of  the  wire  later  than  its  two  ends.  "  If,"  says  Faraday, 
"  the  two  ends  of  the  wire  in  Professor  Wheatstone's 
experiments  were  immediately  connected  with  two 
large  insulated  metallic  surfaces  exposed  to  the  air,  so 
that  the  primary  act  of  induction,  after  making  the 
contact  for  discharge,  might  be  in  part  removed  from 
the  internal  portion  of  the  wire  at  the  first  instance, 
and  disposed  for  the  moment  on  its  surface  jointly  with 
the  air  and  surrounding  conductors,  then  I  venture  to 


THE   FIEST   PERIOD   OF   HIS  EXPERDIENTAL   RESEAKCHES.  83 

anticipate  that  the  middle  spark  would  be  more  retarded     1837 
than  before.     And  if  those  two  plates  were  the  inner  5^ 
and  outer  coatings  of  a  large  jar  or  Leyden  battery, 
then   the   retardation   of  the   spark  would   be  much 
greater."     This  was  only  a  prediction,  for  the  experi- 
ment  was   not   made.      Sixteen   years   subsequently, 
however,  the  proper  conditions  came  into  play,  and 
Faraday  was  able  to  show  that  the  observations  of 
Werner  Siemens  and  Latimer  Clark  on  subterraneous 
and  submarine  wires  were  illustrations,  on   a   grand 
scale,  of  the  principle  which  he  had  enunciated  in  1838. 
The  wires  and  the  surrounding  water  act  as  a  Leyden 
jar,  and  the  retardation  of  the  current  predicted  by 
Faraday  manifests  itself  in  every  message  sent  by  such 
cables. 

'  The  meaning  of  Faraday  in  these  memoirs  on  induc- 
tion and  conduction  is,  as  I  have  said,  by  no  means 
always  clear ;  and  the  difficulty  will  be  most  felt  by 
those  who  are  best  trained  in  ordinary  theoretic  con- 
ceptions.    He  does  not  know  the  reader's  needs,  and 
;he  therefore  does  not  meet  them.     For  instance,  he 
;  speaks  over  and  over   again  of  the   impossibility  of 
i  charging  a  body  with  one  electricity,  though  the  im- 
possibility is  by  no  means  evident.     The  key  to  the 
-  difficulty  is  this.     He  looks  upon  every  insulated  con- 
ductor as  the  inner  coating  of  a  Leyden  jar.     An  in- 
sulated sphere  in  the  middle  of  a  room  is  to  his  mind 
|such  a  coating ;  the  walls  are  the  outer  coating,  while 
the  air  between  both  is  the  insulator,  across  which  the 
charge  acts  by  induction.     Without  this  reaction  of 
the  walls  upon  the  sphere,  you  could  no  more,  according 
to  Faraday,  charge  it  with  electricity  than  you  could 


84  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1836-38.  charge  a  Leyden  jar,  if  its  outer  coating  were  removed. 

ir.44-47.  Distance  with  him  is  immaterial.  His  strength  as  a 
generaliser  enables  him  to  dissolve  the  idea  of  magni- 
tude ;  and  if  you  abolish  the  walls  of  the  room — even 
the  earth  itself — he  would  make  the  sun  and  planets 
the  outer  coating  of  his  jar.  I  dare  not  contend  that 
Faraday  in  these  memoirs  made  all  these  theoretic  posi- 
tions good.  But  a  pure  vein  of  philosophy  runs  through 
these  writings ;  while  his  experiments  and  reasonings 
on  the  forms  and  phenomena  of  electrical  discharge 
are  of  imperishable  importance.' 

Two  notes  for  future  work — taken  from  his  labo- 
ratory book — must  be  mentioned  here.  August  24, 
he  writes :  '  With  respect  to  crystallisation,  endeavour 
to  carry  crystallising  influence  by  wires,  so  as  to  set 
off,  as  it  were,  another  solution  beside  the  active  one, 
i.e.  try  to  transfer  the  crystallising  force.'  And  No- 
vember 14,  he  writes  :  '  Compare  corpuscular  forces  in 
their  amount,  i.e.  the  forces  of  electricity,  gravity, 
chemical  affinity,  cohesion,  &c.,  and  give,  if  I  can,  ex- 
pressions of  their  equivalents  in  some  shape  or  other.' 

In  1838,  in  addition  to  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  and 
fourteenth  series  of  '  Researches,'  the  fifteenth  was  sent 
in  November  to  the  Eoyal  Society  ;  this  was  on  the 
character  and  direction  of  the  electric  force  of  the  gym- 
notus.  The  fish  '  was  brought  to  this  country  about  four 
weeks  ago,'  Faraday  says  in  his  notes  of  September  3  ; 
'  it  is  about  three  feet  six  inches  in  length  ;  has  not  fed 
whilst  here  or  on  the  passage  to  this  country,  and  is 
probably  very  languid.'  The  experiments  were  con- 
tinued in  October  and  November  at  the  Adelaide 
Gallery.  The  gymnotus  thrived  on  fish.  In  addition 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   KESEARCIIES.  85 

to  the  shock  it  showed  by  the  galvanometer  a  current  1836-38. 
outside  the  fish,  from  the  head  to  the  tail,  capable  of  JE-IA^. 
making  a  magnet,  of  causing  chemical  decomposition, 
and  of  giving  a  spark.     He  estimated  the  medium  dis- 
charge as  at  least  equal  to  the  electricity  of  a  Leyden 
battery  of  fifteen  jars,  containing  3,500  square  inches 
of  glass,  coated  on  both  sides,  charged  to  its  highest 
degree. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  he  was  again  experimenting 
on  the  source  of  power  in  the  voltaic  pile. 

In  addition  to  his  researches  in  electricity  he  did 
other  experimental  work  in  these  three  years. 

In  January  1836  he  worked  upon  the  action  of 
heat  as  regards  its  influence  on  the  magnetism  of  iron. 
This,  and  his  work  in  the  previous  year,  he  published 
in  a  paper  in  the  6  Philosophical  Magazine,'  on  the 
general  magnetic  relations  and  characters  of  the  metals. 
He  begins  by  saying,  '  General  views  have  long  since 
led  me  to  an  opinion,  which  is  probably  also  enter- 
tained by  others,  though  I  do  not  remember  to  have 
met  with  it,  that  all  the  metals  are  magnetic  in  the 
same  manner  as  iron.' 

He  had  another  paper  in  the  same  Magazine,  on  a 
supposed  new  sulphate  and  oxide  of  mercury ;  and 
another  on  the  history  of  the  condensation  of  gases ; 
and  another  on  a  peculiar  voltaic  condition  of  iron. 

In  1837,  in  the  same  Magazine,  he  had  a  paper  on 
the  causes  of  the  neutrality  of  iron  in  nitric  acid. 

His  work  for  the  Eoyal  Institution  in  1836  was  six 
lectures,  after  Easter,  on  the  Philosophy  of  Heat. 

He  also  gave  four  Friday  discourses — on  Silicified 
Plants  and  Fossils  ;  on  Magnetism  of  Metals  as  a  gene- 


85  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1837-38.  ral  character  ;  on  Plumbago,  and  on  Pencils,  Mordan's 
^x.44-47.  Machinery ;  and  considerations  respecting  the  nature 
of  Chemical  Elements.  He  thus  ended  this  lecture  on 
June  10  : 

'  Thus  either  present  elements  are  the  true  elements, 
or  else  there  is  the  probability  before  us  of  obtaining 
some  more  high  and  general  power  of  nature  even 
than  electricity  ;  which  at  the  same  time  might  reveal 
to  us  an  entirely  new  grade  of  the  elements  of  matter, 
now  hidden  from  our  view,  and  almost  from  our  sus- 
picion. This  is  the  high  prize  set  before  the  chemico- 
physical  philosopher  of  the  present  day  by  the  present 
state  of  our  scientific  knowledge,  and  with  the  pro- 
pounding of  it  I  have  thought  I  might  well  conclude 
this  series  of  Friday  evenings.' 

In  1837,  at  the  Institution,  he  gave  six  lectures  after 
Easter,  on  Earth,  Air,  Fire,  and  Water. 

Speaking  of  silica  he  says,  '  It  startles  us  by  the 
strange  places  in  which  we  find  it.  These  things  un- 
accountable at  present,  but  show  us  that  with  all  our 
knowledge,  we  know  little  as  yet  of  that  which  may  be 
known.' 

His  four  Friday  discourses  were  on  the  views  of 
Professor  Mossotti  as  to  one  general  law  accounting  for 
the  different  forces  in  matter.  He  ends  his  notes  with  : 
'  Mossotti's  words  not  impossible ;  want  experimental 
proof  of  the  general  law.  Progress  of  knowledge  not 
in  floods — dangerous  as  floods  of  water,  but  a  calm 
and  dignified  process.  Nature  of  a  thing ;  the  answer 
both  of  the  ignorant  and  the  philosopher.  Search  for 
laws.'  On  Dr.  Marshall  Hall's  views  of  the  Nervous 
System ;  on  De  la  Eue's  mode  of  applying  sulphate  of 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  87 

copper  to  the  exaltation  of  the  power  of  a  common  1836-38. 
voltaic  battery  ;  on  the  peculiar  relation  of  iron.  JET.46-47. 

In  1838,  after  Easter,  at  the  Institution,  he  gave  eight 
lectures  on  Electricity.  He  ends  his  notes  of  the  last  lec- 
ture on  June  17,  thus  :  '  General  experimental  relation 
of  the  powers  ;  ignite  wire ;  give  spark ;  decompose  ; 
make  magnet  by  one  current,  and  hence  universality 
of  the  common  cause,  whatever  it  may  be ;  the  force 
is  nowhere  destroyed  ;  all  the  effects  are  convertible.' 

He  gave  three  Friday  discourses  this  year  on  Mr. 
Ward's  plan  of  growing  plants  in  cases.  May  18,  on 
the  gaseous  fluid  and  solid  condition  of  carbonic  acid 
('  Not  impossible  that  hydrogen  a  metal ')  ;  on  insula- 
tion and  conduction. 

For  the  Trinity  House,  in  1836,  his  first  work  was 
to  make  a  photometer.  Throughout  the  whole  year 
he  was  busy  on  the  subject,  making  three  photometers, 
and  ascertaining  the  capability  and  accuracy  of  the  in- 
struments. He  also  experimented  on  the  preparation 
of  oxygen  for  the  Bude  light,  drawing  up  the  most 
exact  tables  for  the  record  of  the  manufacture  ;  for 
example,  on  November  10,  he  says,  *  Hence  oxygen  costs 
very  nearly  twopence  per  cubical  foot ;  exactly  T909 
pence.' 

In  1837  his  work  for  the  Trinity  House  consisted  in 
examining  the  Trinity  lamp,  the  French  lamp,  and  the 
Bude  lamp,  as  to  intensity  of  light  and  price  :  '  pressed 
Mr.  Gurney,  by  letter,  to  give  us  his  best  lamp  at  once, 
and  not  to  lose  time.' 

In  1838,  for  the  Trinity  House,  he  a  second  time 
reported  on  the  new  Gurney  lamp,  comparing  it  in  light 
and  cost  with  the  French  lamp. 


88  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1836-38.      Addresses  were  made  to  Lord  John  Eussell  for  the 
jET.44-47.  removal  of  the  cartoons  to  the  National  Gallery ;  and 

Faraday  was  asked  if  it  was  likely  to  be  prejudicial  to 

them. 


FARADAY  TO   J.  PHILLIPPS,  ESQ. 
(TTNDEIMSECRETARY  OF  STATE  FOB  THE  HOME  DEPARTMENT.) 

'Royal  Institution:  July  19, 1838. 

'  Sir, — I  am  in  town  for  a  day  only,  but  hasten  to 
answer  your  letter.  I  feel  much  diffidence  in  forming 
an  opinion  respecting  the  effect  of  the  air  of  the  metro- 
polis upon  the  cartoons  without  previous  consultation 
with  those  who  have  been  conversant  with  such  action ; 
but  to  avoid  delay  will  state  at  present  that  I  should 
not  anticipate  any  harm  from  the  chemical  action  of 
the  air,  either  upon  the  colours  or  upon  the  vehicle  or 
medium  by  which  they  are  applied. 

'  But  there  is  another  effect  of  the  London  atmosphere 
brought  to  my  mind  by  Mr.  Phillips,  of  the  Eoyal 
Academy,  from  which  I  should  fear  much  harm ;  I 
mean  the  dirtying  effect.  The  ceilings  and  walls  of  a 
London  room  sufficiently  show  to  what  extent  dirt  in 
the  form  of  dust  may  penetrate  surfaces  and  textures 
like  those  of  the  distemper-painted  cartoons.  In  oil 
paintings,  the  dust,  if  it  adheres,  is  stopped  upon  the 
surface,  and  the  substances  applied  for  its  removal  need 
not  pass  through  the  varnish  ;  so  that  the  colours  them- 
selves are  not  necessarily  at  any  time  either  injured  by, 
or  in  contact  with,  the  dirtying  or  the  cleansing  medium. 
But  in  such  paintings  as  the  cartoons,  the  dust  has 
access  to  the  very  colours  and  body  of  the  picture,  and 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD    OP   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  89 

then  cannot  be  dislodged  without  causing  the  destruc-  1836-38. 
tion,  or  something  very  like  it,  of  the  whole.  JEx.46-47. 

'  As  I  see  no  effectual  way  of  preventing  the  access 
of  dirt  to  the  pictures,  I  fear  that  the  evil  thus  arising 
may,  in  the  metropolis,  be  very  considerable,  and 
produce  an  effect  in  the  lapse  of  thirty,  forty,  or  fifty 
years  which  could  never  be  remedied. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  obedient,  humble 
servant, 

<M.  FARADAY.' 


II. 

In  1836  he  was  made  Senator  of  the  University  of 
London ;  Hon.  Member  of  the  Society  of  Pharmacy  of 
Lisbon  and  of  the  Sussex  Eoyal  Institution ;  Foreign 
Member  of  the  Society  of  Sciences  of  Modena,  and  the 
Natural  History  Society  of  Basle. 

In  1837  he  was  elected  Honorary  Member  of  the 
'Literary  and  Scientific  Institution,  Liverpool. 

In  1838  he  was  made  Honorary  Member  of  the 
Institution  of  Civil  Engineers ;  Foreign  Member  of  the 
Koyal  Academy  of  Sciences,  Stockholm;  and  he  re- 
ceived the  Copley  Medal. 


in. 

Kindness  and  consideration  for  others  were  the  cha- 
racteristics of  all  the  most  public  and  private  acts  of 
Faraday's  life,  and  these  come  out  in  strange  ways 


90  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1836-38.  during  these  three  years.  It  seems  almost  impossible 
^Ex.44-47.  that  these  qualities  could  appear  in  business  with  the 
Athenasum  Club  and  the  Trinity  House.  His  brother 
was  a  gas-fitter,  and  Faraday  writes  to  the  Secretary  : 
'  Few  things  would  please  me  more  than  to  help  my 
brother  in  his  business,  or  than  to  know  that  he  had  got 
the  Athenaeum  work ;  but  I  am  exceedingly  jealous  of 
myself,  lest  I  should  endeavour  to  have  that  done  for 
him  as  my  brother  which  the  Committee  might  not 
like  to  do  for  him  as  a  tradesman,  and  it  is  this 
which  makes  me  very  shy  of  saying  a  word  about  the 
matter.' 

His  letter  to  the  Deputy-Master  of  the  Trinity  House 
regarding  his  appointment  as  scientific  adviser  tells  of 
his  indifference  to  the  proposal  as  a  matter  of  interest, 
but  not  as  a  matter  of  kindness. 

On  February  3,  1836,  he  wrote  to  Captain  Pelly, 
Deputy-Master  of  the  Trinity  House  : — 

'  I  consider  your  letter  to  me  as  a  great  compliment, 
and  should  view  the  appointment  at  the  Trinity  House, 
which  you  propose,  in  the  same  light ;  but  I  may  not 
accept  even  honours  without  due  consideration. 

'  In  the  first  place,  my  time  is  of  great  value  to  me, 
and  if  the  appointment  you  speak  of  involved  anything 
like  periodical  routine  attendances,  I  do  not  think  I 
could  accept  it.  But  if  it  meant  that  in  consultation, 
in  the  examination  of  proposed  plans  and  experiments, 
in  trials,  &c.,  made  as  my  convenience  would  allow,  and 
with  an  honest  sense  of  a  duty  to  be  performed,  then 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  FIRST  PERIOD   OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  91 

I  think  it  would  consist  with  my  present  engagements.  1836-38. 
You  have  left  the  title  and  the  sum  in  pencil.     These  ^1.44-47. 
I  look   at   mainly  as  regards   the  character   of  the 
appointment;    you  will  believe  me  to  be  sincere  in 
this,   when   you   remember   my  indifference   to   your 
proposition  as  a  matter  of  interest,  though  not  as  a 
matter  of  kindness. 

4  In  consequence  of  the  goodwill  and  confidence  of 
all  around  me,  I  can  at  any  moment  convert  my  time 
into  money,  but  I  do  not  require  more  of  the  latter 
than  is  sufficient  for  necessary  purposes.  The  sum, 
therefore,  of  200/.  is  quite  enough  in  itself,  but  not  if 
it  is  to  be  the  indicator  of  the  character  of  the  appoint- 
ment ;  but  I  think  you  do  not  view  it  so,  and  that  you 
and  I  understand  each  other  in  that  respect ;  and  your 
letter  confirms  me  in  that  opinion.  The  position  which 
I  presume  you  would  wish  me  to  hold  is  analogous  to 
that  of  a  standing  counsel. 

'  As  to  the  title,  it  might  be  what  you  pleased  almost. 
Chemical  adviser  is  too  narrow ;  for  you  would  find 
me  venturing  into  parts  of  the  philosophy  of  light  not 
chemical.  Scientific  adviser  you  may  think  too  broad 
(or  in  me  too  presumptuous) ;  and  so  it  would  be,  if  by 
it  was  understood  all  science.  It  was  the  character  I 
held  with  two  other  persons  at  the  Admiralty  Board  in 
its  former  constitution. 

'  The  thought  occurs  to  me  whether,  after  all,  you 
want  such  a  person  as  myself.  This  you  must  judge 
of ;  but  I  always  entertain  a  fear  of  taking  an  office  in 
which  I  may  be  of  no  use  to  those  who  engage  me. 
Your  applications  are,  however,  so  practical,  and  often 
so  chemical,  that  I  have  no  great  doubt  in  the  matter.' 


92  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1837.  For  thirty  years  nearly  he  held  this  post.  What  he 
jEtiAt^G.  did  may  be  seen  in  the  portfolios,  full  of  manuscripts, 
which  Mrs.  Faraday  has  given  to  the  Trinity  House,  in 
which,  by  the  marvellous  order  and  method  of  his 
notes  and  indices,  each  particle  of  his  work  can  be 
found  and  consulted  immediately. 

The  following  letter  to  M.  C.  Matteucci  shows  how 
sound  his  judgment  was,  even  in  his  own  cause. 


FARADAY   TO   MATTEUCCI. 

1  Royal  Institution :  April  19,  1839. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — On  returning  to  town  I  find  your 
letter.1  It  rather  embarrasses  me  as  to  the  right  mode 
of  proceeding,  as  it  calls  on  me  to  publish  that  letter. 
Now  I  have  no  doubt  you  were  unacquainted  with  the 
seventh  series  of  my  "  Researches  "  when  your  paper  was 
written,  and  you  probably  had  not  recollected  the  an- 

1  On  March  12,  M.  M.  wrote  to  say  that  Poggendorfs  Journal  had 
brought  against  him  (M.  M.)  an  unjust  accusation  of  plagiarism  from  F. 
He  continued:  'In  the  Institut,  Paris,  October  18, 1834,  the  first  notice 
is  found  of  your  admirable  labours,  and  it  was  before  that  epoch  that  the 
memoir  directed  to  M.  Gay-Lussac  was  published,  as  the  date  will  testify. 
....  I  flatter  myself  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  give  to  this 
letter  the  publicity  which  is  required  by  consideration  for  my  character 
and  by  the  high  esteem  and  sincere  friendship  that  I  entertain  towards 
yourself.  Believe  me,  &c.,  C.  Matteucci.' 

June  11,  1836,  M.  M.  writes  :  '  Personne,  monsieur,  n'est  plus  que  moi 
convaincu  de  la  date  ante"rieure  de  votre  grande  de"couverte  sur  la  force 
decomposante  du  courant  electrique,  et  vous  pouvez  regarder  cette  lettro 
comrne  la  declaration  la  plus  solennelle 

'  Je  ne  connais  M.  Poggendorf,  et  je  ne  connais  de  quelle  mauiere  lui 
passer  cette  declaration.' 

Then  he  asks  F.  to  get  him  named  Professor  of  Physics  or  Chemistry  at 
Corfu. 


LETTERS  DURING   THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  93 

nouncement  of  the  law  in  the  third  series,  dated  as  far      1837. 
back  as  December  1832,  that  the  chemical  power  of  a  cur-    JET.  40. 
rent  of  electricity  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the  quantity  of 
electricity  which  passes.   This  law  was  again  announced 
in  the  fifth  series  of  my  "  Eesearches,"  of  the  date  of 
June  1833,  see  paragraphs    456,  504,  505.     I  think 
you  have  these  papers  and  can  refer  to  them. 

'  My  difficulty  is  this :  I  had  not  noticed  the  occurrence 
of  your  paper  of  a  date  so  much  later  than  my  own, 
though  many  persons  had  pointed  it  out  to  me  in  the 
"  Annales  de  Chimie,"  and  expressed  their  surprise  at 
it.  It  certainly  had  in  their  minds  made  an  impres- 
sion. 

'  The  editor  of  "  Poggendorf  s  Journal "  did  it  of  his 
own  free  will  and  judgment,  and  I  think  the  plain 
course  is  for  you  to  write  to  him,  telling  him  that  you 
were  not  acquainted  with  my  paper ;  but  now  that  you 
do  know  the  facts,  acknowledge  the  order  of  the  dates 
as  they  really  stand. 

'  This  is  what  I  have  always  done,  and  you  will  see 
a  case  of  it  where  I  have  made  restitution  to  a  coun- 
tryman of  your  own,  M.  Bellani,  in  the  "  Quarterly 
Journal  of  Science,"  published  here  formerly,  volume 
xxiv.  pp.  469,  470. 

'  If  you  still  wish  me  to  publish  the  letter  which  you 
sent  me,  I  hope  you  will  write  to  me  at  once  by  post ; 
but  I  must  accompany  it  with  dates.  I  should,  how- 
ever, in  my  own  case,  pursue  the  plan  I  have  recom- 
mended to  you. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  very  faithfully, 

'  M.  FARADAY. 


94  LIFE  OF  FAEADAY. 


FAEADAY  TO  DE.  BOOTH 

(in  reply  to  a  request  for  a  testimonial  to  his  friend  E. 
Phillips,  who  was  candidate  for  the  chair  of  Chemistry  at 
University  College). 

<  March  1,  1837. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — That  I  cannot  give  a  testimonial  to 
my  friend  Phillips  is  not  merely  a  matter  of  general 
reluctance  to  certify,  but  of  principle  ;  for  refusing  all, 
I  am  obliged  to  refuse  each  ;  and  I  refuse  all  because, 
having  no  confidence  in  certificates,  I  wish  to  have  no 
association  in  any  way  with  them.  In  the  present 
particular  case,  too,  if  I  certify  for  one,  I  should  have 
to  certify  for  two  others  also,  one  being  our  friend 
Graham,  of  Glasgow.  But  when  I  am  asked  by  an 
authority  (concerned  in  forming  the  decision)  what  I 
think  of  a  candidate,  I  cannot  refuse  to  answer. 

'  To  all  that  you  have  said  of  Phillips  I  fully  agree. 
I  should  indeed  have  thought  his  character  had  been 
known  to  be  such  that  it  would  rather  have  been  de- 
graded than  established  by  certificates.  What  he  has 
done  in  connection  with  the  Pharmacopeia  is  fully 
sufficient  to  show  the  confidence  reposed  in  his  talents 
and  abilities  by  those  who  hold  high  station  in  the 
medical  world,  and  I  can  freely  say  that  if  I  had  time 
and  desire  to  pursue  still  further  pharmaceutical 
chemistry,  I  should  go  to  Mr.  Phillips  for  my 
teacher. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  very  faithfully  yours, 

'  M.  FAEADAY.' 


LETTERS  DURING   THE  FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS  RESEARCHES.  95 


FARADAY   TO   MRS.    FARADAY. 

'  British  Association.    Liverpool,  Toxteth  Park : 
Tuesday,  September  13,  1837. 


'  We  arrived  here  very  safely  and  comfortably  on 
Monday  about  four  o'clock,  and  since  then  have  been 
in  a  continual  hurry,  but  our  hosts  here  are  in  still 
greater  haste,  and  indeed  labour  too  much  in  the 
hospitable  cause.  Mr.  Currie  was  waiting  for  us. 

1  This  morning  I  went  into  town  early  after  break- 
fast, and  met  Daniell  with  our  infinity  of  friends.  But 
what  will  you  think  of  Daniell's  management,  when  I 
tell  you  that. besides  separating  us,  as  it  has  done,  in 
our  domiciles,  it  has  made  us  most  responsible  persons, 
for  I  am  President  of  the  Chemical  Section,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  three  Vice-Presidents  ?  Only  think  of  our  not 
working.  Why,  it  could  not  be.  For  if,  after  the 
extreme  kindness  and  forbearance  which  the  friends 
here  showed  to  us,  we  had>  refused  altogether  to 
join  in  the  common  feeling,  we  should  have  looked 
like  churls  indeed.  So  we  are  in  harness  a  little ; 
nothing  like  what  we  might  be  :  for  all  are  excessively 
kind. 

'  To-day  I  think  we  made  our  section  rather  more 
interesting  than  was  expected,  and  to-morrow  I  expect 
will  be  good  also.  In  the  afternoon  Daniell  and  I  took 
a  quiet  walk ;  in  the  evening  he  dined  with  me  here. 
We  have  been  since  to  a  grand  conversazione  at  the 
town-hall,  and  I  have  now  returned  to  my  room  to  talk 
with  you,  as  the  pleasantest  and  happiest  thing  I  can  do. 


96  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 

1838.     Nothing  rests  me  so  much  as  communion  with  you.     I 
MT.  46.    feel  it  even  now  as  I  write,  and  I  catch  myself  saying 

the  words  aloud  as  I  write  them,  as  if  you  were  within 

hearing. 

4  Ever,  my  dear  Sarah,  your  affectionate  husband, 

1 M.  FARADAY.' 

This  year  the  feeling  of  Faraday  regarding  his  pen- 
sion is  again  made  clear  by  a  letter  to  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer,  who  was  about  to  move  for  a  par- 
liamentary committee,  regarding  the  continuance  of 
pensions. 

FARADAY  TO   THE   RIGHT   HON.    T.  SPRING   RICE. 

'Royal  Institution  :  December  1, 1837. 

'  Sir, — I  am  honoured  and  much  obliged  by  your 
communication,  but  have  little  to  say  in  reply.  When 
Lord  Melbourne  favoured  me  with  a  letter  on  the  sub- 
ject he  was  pleased  to  say  that  "  the  distinction  so  be- 
stowed "  was  with  the  "  desire  to  reward  acknowledged 
merit,  and  to  advance  the  interests  of  science."  I  am 
no  judge  whether  that  in  the  present  instance  be  the 
case  or  not ;  but  if  the  grant  do  not  retain  the  same 
feeling  and  character  as  that  which  his  Lordship 
attached  to  it,  I  should,  though  with  all  respect  to  the 
Government,  certainly  have  no  wish  for  its  continu- 
ance. 

1 1  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  very  obedient, 
humble  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


THE    FIKST   PERIOD    OF   HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  97 

April  17,   1838,  he  received  a  circular  from  Mr.      1838. 
Spring  Eice,  saying  that  he  was  at  present  engaged  in    MT.  IG, 
preparing  materials  for  a  report  on  civil-list  pensions, 
and  asking  for  a  list  of  his  works  and  titles.     Faraday 
replies : 


FARADAY   TO    THE  RIGHT    HON.  T.    SPRING   RlCE. 

'Royal  Institution:  April  23, 1838. 

'  Sir, — Though  unwilling  to  do  anything  which  might 
bear  the  interpretation  of  a  desire  on  my  part  to  proffer 
evidence  in  favour  of  my  own  character,  I  cannot  for 
a  moment  hesitate  to  answer  your  inquiries.  Had  I 
been  in  town,  the  list  1  now  enclose  would  have  been 
sent  sooner.  One  title,  namely  that  of  F.RS.,  was 
sought  and  paid  for ;  all  the  rest  are  spontaneous 
offerings  of  kindness  and  goodwill  from  the  bodies 
named.  Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  added  one  more,  for 
I  feel  it  an  honour  equal  to  that  of  any  of  those  set 
down — I  mean  that  of  Member  of  the  Senate  of  the 
University  of  London ;  but  as  you,  Sir,  were  the  person 
conferring  it,  I  have  left  it  for  you  to  do  with  as  you 
may  please. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  obedient,  humble 
servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY. 


'  Corresponding  Member  Academie  Eoyale  des 
Sciences,  Institut  de  France ;  Societe  de  Chimie  Medi- 
cale  de  Paris  ;  Societe"  Philomathique  de  Paris  ;  Eoyal 
Academy  of  Sciences,  Berlin  ;  Academy  of  Science  and 
Belles-Lettres,  Palermo  ;  Eoyal  Academy  of  Medicine^ 

VOL.  II.  H 


98  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1838.     Paris ;  Physical  Society  of  Frankfort ;  Natural  History 
JET.  46.    Society  of  Basle. 

'  Foreign  Member  of  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy ;  Eoyal  Society  of  Gb'ttingen ;  Modena  Society 
of  Science. 

1  Fellow  of  the  Society  for  Natural  Sciences,  Heidel- 
berg ;  American  Academy  Arts  and  Sciences,  Boston. 

'Member  of  Eoyal  Society  of  Sciences  at  Copen- 
hagen. 

*  D.C.L.  of  Oxford  University. 
•F.B.S. 

*  Fullerian  Professor  of  Chemistry,  E.I. 

'  In  "  Phil.  Trans.,"  nine  papers  on  different  subjects  ; 
thirteen  papers  on  Electricity — twenty-two. 

*  Many   long  and   short  in   "  Quarterly   Journal  of 
Science,"  Chemical  Manipulation. 

'Honorary  Member  of  Cambridge  Philosophical 
Society ;  Bristol  Institution  ;  Cambrian  Society,  Swan- 
sea ;  Society  of  Arts  for  Scotland  ;  Imperial  Academy 
of  Sciences,  St.  Petersburg  ;  Society  of  Physical  and 
Chemical  Sciences  at  Paris  ;  Hull  Literary  and  Philoso- 
phical Society ;  Institute  of  British  Architects  ;  Eoyal 
Society  of  Edinburgh  ;  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society 
of  London ;  Society  of  Pharmacy  of  Lisbon. 

'  Corresponding  Associate  of  Imperial  and  Eoyal 
Academy  dei  Georgofili  di  Firenze.' 

In  1839  and  1840  much  less  original  research  was 
done  by  Faraday  than  had  been  done  in  the  previous 
years.  He  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  overwork.  Still 
he  added  two  more  papers  to  the  series  of  *  Experi- 
mental Eesearches  in  Electricity,'  and  he  went  on  with 
his  work  for  the  Institution,  and  for  the  Trinity  House. 


THE    FIRST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  99 

The  most  remarkable  event  of  his  life  in  1840  was  1839-40. 
his  election  as  an  elder  by  the  Sandemanian  Church  ; 
he  held  the  office  only  for  three  years  and  a  half. 
During  that  period  when  in  London  he  preached  on 
alternate  Sundays.  This  was  not  entirely  a  new  duty. 
From  the  time  of  his  admission  into  the  Church  he 
had  been  occasionally  called  upon  by  the  elders  to 
exhort  the  brethren  at  the  week-day  meetings ;  now, 
however,  it  was  done  regularly,  and  how  thoroughly, 
Faraday's  character,  as  seen  up  to  this  time,  is  sufficient 
to  show.  Certainly  no  more  rest  would  be  given  by 
this  new  duty  to  his  overworked  mind. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  draw  a  comparison  between 
his  preaching  and  his  lecturing  :  first,  because  they  were 
very  unequally  known  ;  and  secondly,  because  of  the 
entire  separation  he  made  between  the  subjects  of 
religion  and  of  science. 

Generally  perhaps  it  might  be  said  that  no  one 
could  lecture  like  Faraday,  but  that  many  might  preach 
with  more  effect. 

The  reason  why  his  sermons  seemed  inferior  to  his 
lectures  is  very  evident.  There  was  no  eloquence. 
There  was  not  one  word  said  for  effect.  The  over- 
flowing energy  and  clearness  of  the  lecture-room  were 
replaced  by  an  earnestness  of  manner,  best  summed 
up  in  the  word  devoutness.  His  object  seemed  to  be, 
to  make  the  most  use  of  the  words  of  Scripture,  and  to 
make  as  little  of  his  own  words  as  he  could.  Hence  a 
stranger  was  struck  first  by  the  number  and  rapidity  of 
his  references  to  texts  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments, 
and  secondly  by  the  devoutness  of  his  manner. 

These  sermons  were  always  extemporary,  but  they 


100  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1839-40.  were  prepared  with  great  care.  On  the  two  sides  of 
jET.47-49.  a  card  he  made  the  shortest  and  neatest  notes  of  the 
texts  which  he  intended  to  use.  One  of  these  cards 
(see  opposite  page),  taken  almost  by  accident  out  of 
very  many,  will  show  his  manner  and  his  mind  better 
than  any  description  can  do. 

A  friend  says :  '  I  once  heard  him  read  the 
Scriptures  at  the  chapel  where  he  was  an  elder.  He 
read  a  long  portion  of  one  of  the  gospels  slowly, 
reverently,  and  with  such  an  intelligent  and  sym- 
pathising appreciation  of  the  meaning,  that  I  thought 
I  had  never  heard  before  so  excellent  a  reader.' 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES. 


101 


II.  Peter  iii.  1,  2,  14.     A  prophetic  warning  to  Christians. 

First  the  power  and  grace  and  promises  of  the  Gospel. 
V  3.  by  His  power  are  given  great  and  precious   promises  4  divine 
nature  and  brethren  exhorted  to  give  diligence  5  whilst  in  this  life  up 


Then  cometh  a  warning  of  the  state  into  which  they  may  fall  S.  9  if 
they  forget — so  He  stirs  them  up  42.  13.  15.  as  escapers  from  the  cor- 
ruption V  4 


\\\ .  14.   Wherefore  beloved  seeing  ye  LOOK  for  suck  things,  their  hope 
and  expectation — it  is  to  stir  up  their  pure  minds  \\\.  1.  by  way  of 
remembrance — hastening  the  day  of  the  v  12     awful  as  that  day  will 
be  12.7  because  of  the  deliverance  from  the  plague  of  our  own  heart 
II.  Cor,  iv.  18  17  16  look  not  at  things  seen— temporal 

Titus  ii.  13  looking  for  the  hope  and  glorious  appearing 

Heb.  x.  37  Yet  a  little  while  and  he  that  shall  eome  will  come. 


The  world  make  His  forbearance  a  plea  to  forget  Him  or  deny  Him 
\\\ .  4-  ^  perceiving  Him  not  in  His  works.  His  people  see  His  mercy 
and  long  suffering  and  look  for  His  promise  12  14  an(l  salvation  15 
and  learn  that  He  knoweth  how  to  reserve  \\.  3.  9.  and  preserve,  hence 
they  are  not  to  be  slothful  Prov.  xxiv.  30* 

nor  sleeping — Matt.  xxv.  1.     Sleeping  virgins 

nor  doubting  \\\ .  4 

nor  repining  Heb.  xii.  12.  3.  5  lift  up  hands 

Jas.  v.  7.  8  be  patient— husbandman  waiteth 
but  ^~=^  waiting  Luke  12.  36.  37  39       40       Peter  41 

v.  58  59  refers  to  day  of  long  suffering 


Wherefore  beloved  seeing  ye  know  these  things,  beware  &c.  danger 
of  falling  away  in  many  parts  V  9  \\.  20.  21.  22.  great  pride  of  the 
formal  adherers  \\.  19.  13 

But  the  assurance  is  at  \\\.  1§—\.  2.  $ 


The  figures  in  italics  chiefly  refer  to  the  chapter  from  which  the  text 
taken. 

Figures  sloping  to  the  right  are  for  chapters,  to  the  left  for  versos. 


102  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 


1839-40.  In  1839,  very  little  work  was  done  in  the  early 
ji;i.47-49.  part  of  the  year  in  the  laboratory.  Later,  in  August, 
September,  October,  and  November,  he  worked  hard  at 
the  source  of  electricity. 

In  January  1840  he  was  again  at  work  on  the 
voltaic  pile.  He  made  some  experiments  in  August 
and  September,  but  after  the  1 4th  no  entry  is  made 
in  his  note-book  until  June  1,  1842. 

The  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  series  of  'Experi- 
mental Researches '  were  sent  to  the  Royal  Society  in 
the  early  part  of  the  first  year. 

Dr.  Tyndall  sums  up  this  investigation  in  these 
words  : — 

4  The  memoir  on  the  "  Electricity  of  the  Voltaic 
Pile,"  published  in  1834,  appears  to  have  produced  but 
little  impression  upon  the  supporters  of  the  contact 
theory.  These  indeed  were  men  of  too  great  intel- 
lectual weight  and  insight  lightly  to  take  up,  or  lightly 
to  abandon,  a  theory.  Faraday  therefore  resumed  the 
attack  in  two  papers  communicated  to  the  Royal  Society 
on  February  6  and  March  19,  1840.  In  these  papers 
he  hampered  his  antagonists  by  a  crowd  of  adverse 
experiments.  He  hung  difficulty  after  difficulty  about 
the  neck  of  the  contact  theory,  until  in  its  efforts  to 
escape  from  his  assaults  it  so  changed  its  character  as 
to  become  a  thing  totally  different  from  the  theory 
proposed  by  Volta.  The  more  persistently  it  was 
defended,  however,  the  more  clearly  did  it  show  itself 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  103 

to  be  a  coDgeries  of  devices,  bearing  the  stamp  of  1839-40. 
'  dialectic  skill  rather  than  that  of  natural  truth.  ^.47-49. 

'  In  conclusion,  Faraday  brought  to  bear  upon  it  an 
argument  which,  had  its  full  weight  and  purport  been 
understood  at  the  time,  would  have  instantly  decided 
the  controversy.  "  The  contact  theory,"  he  urged, 
"  assumes  that  a  force  which  is  able  to  overcome 
powerful  resistance,  as  for  instance  that  of  the  con- 
ductors, good  or  bad,  through  which  the  current  passes, 
and  that  again  of  the  electrolytic  action  where  bodies 
are  decomposed  by  it,  can  arise  out  of  nothing  ;  that 
without  any  change  in  the  acting  matter,  or  the  con- 
sumption of  any  generating  force,  a  current  shall  be 
produced  which  shall  go  on  for  ever  against  a  constant 
resistance,  or  only  be  stopped,  as  in  the  voltaic 
trough,  by  the  ruins  which  its  exertion  has  heaped  up 
in  its  own  course.  This  would  indeed  be  a  creation  of 
power,  and  is  like  no  other  force  in  nature.  We  have 
many  processes  by  which  the  form  of  the  power  may 
be  so  changed,  that  an  apparent  conversion  of  one  into 
the  other  takes  place.  So  we  can  change  chemical 
force  into  the  electric  current,  or  the  current  into 
chemical  force.  The  beautiful  experiments  of  Seebeck 
and  Peltier  show  the  convertibility  of  heat  and  electri- 
city ;  and  others  by  Oersted  and  myself  show  the 
convertibility  of  electricity  and  magnetism.  But  in 
no  case,  not  even  in  those  of  the  gymnotus  and  torpedo, 
is  .there  a  pure  creation  or  a  production  of  power 
without  a  corresponding  exhaustion  of  something  to 
supply  it" ' 

His  work  for  the  Institution  in  1839  was  eight 
lectures  after  Easter  on  the  non-metallic  elements, 


104  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1839-40.  oxygen,  chlorine,  hydrogen,  nitrogen,  phosphorus, 
JEr.47-49.  sulphur,  carbon.  He  gave  five  Friday  evening  dis- 
courses:  On  the  electric  powers  of  the  gymnotusand 
silurus  ;  an  account  of  Gurney's  oxy-oil  lamp,  Airy's 
correction  of  ships'  compasses  ;  general  remarks  on 
flame  ;  on  Hullmandel's  calico  printing. 

In  1840  he  gave  a  course  of  seven  lectures  on  the 
force  usually  called  chemical  affinity.  In  his  third 
lecture,  speaking  of  putrefaction  and  decay,  he  says : 
'  Eepulsive  as  these  are  in  some  points  of  view,  they  are 
in  others  full  of  beauty  and  of  power,  and  evidences  of 
a  wisdom  which  the  more  a  man  knows  the  more  freely 
will  he  acknowledge  he  cannot  understand.' 

At  the  end  of  the  fifth  lecture  he  writes  :  '  There 
are  some  strange  cases  of  chemical  affinity  in  which 
proportions  not  definite  appear  to  cause  great  change. 
Thus  silicon  and  carbon  with  iron.  As  there  are  no 
exceptions  in  natural  laws,  we  shall  probably  hereafter 
find  these  important.  Observe  a  case  therefore  in  steel. 
Steel  is  soft  iron  combined  with  a  little  carbon.  JSTow 
observe  the  similarities  and  differences. '  And  a  dozen 
experiments  are  given  in  illustration  of  these.  '  Ee- 
ference  of  this  case  to  those  of  organic  life,  i.e.  the 
effect  of  a  small  portion  of  matter — so  make  us  modest 
and  doubtful  in  our  assertions.  Privilege  of  the  ex- 
perimentalist. The  need  of  this  modesty  shown  still  more 
by  the  present  state  of  the  notions  regarding  atoms,  and 
grouped  atoms,  and  multiple  atoms,  &c.'  He  also  gave 
three  Friday  evening  discourses  on  voltaic  precipita- 
tion, electrotype  ;  on  condensed  gases ;  and  on  the 
origin  of  voltaic  electricity.  The  following  note  shows 
how  at  this  time  he  arranged  the  Friday  evening 
meetings  and  prepared  his  own  lecture. 


LETTERS    DURIXG    THE   FIRST   PERIOD  OF    HIS   RESEARCHES.  105 

FARADAY   TO   C.   WHEATSTONE,   ESQ.  .   184(K  . 

<  Royal  Institution  :  May  4,  1840.         &*•  «. 

'  Dear  Wheatstone, — Thrice  have  I  endeavoured  to 
catch  you  at  home,  but  failed.  My  object  is  to  ascer- 
tain whether  you  can  let  me  have  the  telegraph  subject 
this  season,  as  you  said  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  i  and 
if  so,  whether  the  last  evening,  June  12,  would  suit. 
As  I  have  not  seen  much  of  it  lately  /  should  want 
cramming,  but  will  prepare  as  soon  as  I  know  your 
mind.  You  know  my  desire  to  present  your  beautiful 
developments  to  our  audience,  and  I  know  I  may 
count  on  your  willingness,  but  cannot  tell  as  to  your 
convenience.  Let  me  know  quickly,  for  I  must  now 
arrange  the  rest  of  the  evenings.  Ever  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

His  work  for  the  Trinity  House  was  very  little  in 
1839.  At  the  end  of  July  he  was  four  days  at  Orford- 
ness,  measuring  and  comparing  at  sea  and  on  land 
the  Argand  lamp,  the  French  lamp,  and  the  Bude 
lamp. 

In  1840  he  reported  to  the  Trinity  House  on  the 
necessity  and  method  of  examining  lighthouse  dioptric 
arrangements,  and  he  had  to  examine  the  apparatus 
intended  for  Gibraltar.  Between  Purfleet  and  Black- 
wall  he  made  a  long  comparison  between  English  and 
French  reflecting  lamps,  and  between  English  and 
French  refracting  prisms. 

n. 

In  1840,  he  was  made  Member  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  Philadelphia ;  and  Honorary 


106  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1839-40.  Member    of    the   Hunterian   Medical    Society,   Edin- 
^ET.47-49.  burgh. 

III. 

He  showed  something  of  his  nature  in  his  letters 
to  Dr.  Hare,  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  and  to  Professor  Auguste  de  la 
Eive,  the  son  of  his  early  friend.  In  1840  Dr.  Hare 
wrote  his  objections  to  Faraday's  theoretical  opinions  on 
static  induction.  At  the  end  of  Faraday's  reply,  he 
says  : — '  The  paragraphs  which  remain  unanswered 
refer,  I  think,  only  to  differences  of  opinion,  or  else 
not  even  to  differences,  but  opinions  regarding  which  I 
have  not  ventured  to  judge.  These  opinions  I  esteem 
of  the  utmost  importance,  but  that  is  a  reason  which 
makes  me  the  rather  desirous  to  decline  entering  upon 
their  consideration,  inasmuch  as  on  many  of  their  con- 
nected points  1  have  formed  no  decided  notion,  but 
am  constrained  by  ignorance  and  the  contrast  of  facts  to 
hold  my  judgment  as  yet  in  suspense.  It  is  indeed  to 
me  an  annoying  matter  to  find  how  many  subjects  there 
are  in  electrical  science  on  which,  if  I  were  asked  for 
an  opinion,  I  should  have  to  say  I  cannot  tell — I  do 
not  know ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  encouraging  to 
think  that  these  are  they  which,  if  pursued  industriously, 
experimentally,  and  thoughtfully,  will  lead  to  new  dis- 
coveries. Such  a  subject,  for  instance,  occurs  in  the 
currents  produced  by  dynamic  induction,  which  you 
say  it  will  be  admitted  do  not  require  for  their  pro- 
duction intervening  ponderable  atoms.  For  my  own 
part,  I  more  than  half  incline  to  think  they  do  re- 
quire these  intervening  particles.  But  on  this  question, 
as  on  many  others,  I  have  not  yet  made  up  my  mind.' 


THE    FIKST    PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  107 

On  January  1,  the  following  year,  Dr.  Hare  sent  a  1839-40. 
'  reply.     In  Faraday's  answer  to  this,  he  says  : — *  You  ^1.47-49. 
must  excuse  me,  however,  for  several  reasons,  from 
answering  it  at  any  length.    The  first  is  my  distaste  for 
controversy,  which  is  so  great  that   I  would  on   no 
account  our  correspondence  should  acquire  that  cha- 
racter.    I  have  often  seen  it  do  great  harm,  and  yet 
remember  few  cases  in  natural  knowledge   where  it 
has  helped  much  either  to  pull  down  error  or  advance 
truth.     Criticism,  on  the  other  hand,  is  of  much  value  ; 
;  and  when  criticism  such  as  yours  has  done  its  duty, 
i  then  it  is  for  other  minds  than  those  either  of  the 
author  or  critic  to  decide  upon  and  acknowledge  the 
right.' 

FARADAY   TO    PROFESSOR  AUGUSTS   DE    LA   RIVE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  April  24,  1840. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — Though  a  miserable  correspondent, 
I  take  up  my  pen  to  write  to  you,  the  moving  feeling 
being  a  desire  to  congratulate  you  on  your  discernment, 
perseverance,  faithfulness,  and  success  in  the  cause  of 
Chemical  Excitement  of  the  Current  in  the  Voltaic  Bat- 
tery. You  will  think  it  is  rather  late  to  do  so  ;  but  not 
under  the  circumstances.  For  a  long  time  I  had  not 
made  up  my  mind ;  then  the  facts  of  definite  electro- 
chemical action  made  me  take  part  with  the  supporters 
of  the  chemical  theory,  and  since  then  Marianini's 
paper  with  reference  to  myself  has  made  me  read  and 
experiment  more  generally  on  the  point  in  question. 
In  the  reading,  I  was  struck  to  see  how  soon,  clearly, 
and  constantly  you  had  and  have  supported  that  theory, 
and  think  your  proofs  and  reasons  most  excellent  and 
convincing.  The  constancy  of  Marianini  and  of  many 


108  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1840.  others  on  the  opposite  side  made  me,  however,  think  it 
Mt.  48.  not  unnecessary  to  accumulate  and  record  evidence  of  the 
truth,  and  I  have  therefore  written  two  papers,  which 
I  shall  send  you  when  printed,  in  which  I  enter  under 
your  banners  as  regards  the  origin  of  electricity  or  of 
the  current  in  the  tube.  My  object  in  experimenting 
was,  as  I  am  sure  yours  has  always  been,  not  so  much 
to  support  a  given  theory  as  to  learn  the  natural  truth. 
And  having  gone  to  the  question  unbiassed  by  any  pre- 
judices, I  cannot  imagine  how  anyone  whose  mind  is 
not  preoccupied  by  a  theory,  or  a  strong  bearing  to  a 
theory,  can  take  part  with  that  of  contact  against  that 
of  chemical  action.  However,  I  am  perhaps  wrong 
saying  so  much,  for,  as  no  one  is  infallible,  and  as  the 
experience  of  past  times  may  teach  us  to  doubt  a  theory 
which  seems  to  be  most  unchangeably  established,  so" 
we  cannot  say  what  the  future  may  bring  forth  in  regard 
to  these  views. 

'  I  shall  be  anxious  some  day,  if  health  continues,  to 
make  a  few  experiments  on  contact  with  the  electro- 
meter. I  know  of  yours,  BecquerePs,  &c.,  but  if  there 
are  any  dimensions  which  are  particular,  or  any  pre- 
cautions which  as  a  practical  man  you  are  aware  of, 
and  which  you  know  render  it  more  sensible,  I  am 
in  hopes,  if  you  take  the  trouble  to  write  to  me 
hereafter,  you  would  not  mind  sending  me  word  or 
referring  me  to  the  papers  or  works  which  may  mention 
them. 

*  And  now,  before  I  conclude,  let  me  ask  you  to  re- 
member me  kindly  to  Madame  de  la  Rive,  of  whose 
good  will  and  courtesy  both  I  and  my  wife  have  a 
very  strong  remembrance.  I  was  not  well  during  my 
journey  at  that  time,  but  still  I  have  a  great  many 


LETTERS   DURING   THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF    HIS   RESEARCHES.  109 

pleasant  recollections,  and  amongst  the  most  pleasant  1839-40. 
those  of  Geneva,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  you.  m^Hu. 

i  I  have  several  papers  of  yours  to  acknowledge,  but 
I  cannot  recollect  them  so  accurately  as  to  thank  you 
in  order  for  them.  I  am  always  grateful,  and  very 
glad  to  see  them.  Your  historical  account  of  your  own 
researches  as  regards  the  battery  has  been  very  useful 
to  me,  and  makes  me  wish  more  and  more  that  we  had 
a  sort  of  index  to  electrical  science  to  which  one  might 
look  for  facts,  their  authors,  and  public  dates.  The 
man  who  would  devise  a  good  scheme  for  such  an  index, 
so  that  it  might  take  in  new  facts  as  they  were  dis- 
covered, and  also  receive  old  and  anticipating  observa- 
tions as  they  should  gradually  be  remembered  and  drawn 
forth  from  obscurity,  would  deserve  well  of  all  scientific 
men. 

'  But  I  must  conclude,  and  am  as  ever,  my  dear  Sir, 
your  obliged,  grateful,  and  admiring  friend, 

1 M.  FARADAY.' 

The  following  letter  from  Professor  Brande  to  Fara- 
day shows  how  his  work  was  telling  on  his  health,  and 
it  gives  his  relationship  at  this  time  to  Mr.  Brande. 

'  Royal  Mint :  December  11,  1839. 

*  My  dear  Faraday, — Many  thanks  for  your  very 
satisfactory  note,  which  I  assure  you  has  given  all  of 
us  sincere  pleasure.  I  called  yesterday  morning  on 
Dr.  Latham  to  tell  him  its  contents,  and  ask  whether 
he  had  any  further  advice  to  give  you.  He  says,  none, 
provided  you  will  continue  as  you  have  begun,  and 
remain  thoroughly  idle.  Pray  act  strictly  upon  this 
principle.  You  can  have  no  difficulty  in  amusing  and 
occupying  yourself  with  what  you  call  trifles,  things 


110  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

which  do  not  require  thought  or  consideration ;  your 
JET.47-48.  brain  will  then  regain  its  tone,  and  you  will  be  able  to 
make  moderate  and  prudent  use  of  its  faculties.  Dr. 
Latham  expressed  his  sincere  conviction  that  under 
these  conditions  all  would  get  quite  right  again.  It 
grieves  me  that  I  cannot  offer  to  be  of  any  use  to  you 
as  regards  the  Friday  evenings,  but  you  know  how  sad 
a  figure  I  cut  on  those  occasions ;  and  as  to  the  tact 
requisite  for  their  general  management  and  arrange- 
ment, I  candidly  confess  I  have  it  not.  However,  I 
will  do  all  and  anything  I  can,  and  if  you  will  suggest 
anything  which  I  can  follow  up,  or  point  out  any 
inquiries  which  I  can  make,  or  persons  to  whom  I 
can  apply,  you  have  only  to  send  me  your  hints  and 
orders.  Not  but  that  I  confidently  hope  that  before 
their  time  comes  on  you  will  feel  quite  up  to  all 
business  of  that  kind.  I  got  on  tolerably  well  with  the 
electricity  lectures.  In  Anderson  I  have  an  excellent 
prompter ;  he  tells  me  that  I  do  better  than  he  would 
have  expected — a  plain  compliment  w4iich  I  duly  appre- 
ciate. At  first  I  began  to  fear  the  fate  of  Phaeton  in 
the  chariot  of  Phoebus,  but  by  now  and  then  going  a 
little  astray  from  your  notes,  and  following  the  excel- 
lent maxim  of  not  attempting,  as  the  metaphysicians 
do,  to  explain  what  I  do  not  understand,  I  hope  I  shall 
not  commit  myself.  I  admire  your  apprehension  of 
having  ridden  your  hobby  in  improper  times  and 
places  ;  no  one  could  say  you  were  not  his  master.  I  am 
afraid  they  sometimes  see  that  I  am  mounted  upon  an 
animal  I  am  afraid  of.  You  would  have  been  amused 
the  other  day  had  you  been  present  at  the  Athenaeum 
House  Committee  upon  the  subject  of  illumination. 
The  old  gas  apparatus  for  that  purpose  is  worn  out, 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD    OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  Ill 

and  it  has  become  necessary  to  replace  it ;  the  question  1839. 
therefore  naturally  arose,  as  to  whether  the  arrange-  ir.iV-is. 
!  ment  and  device  might  not  be  improved,  and  it  was 
I  thought  right  to  consult  an  artist  or  two :  accordingly, 
!  those  two  excellent  persons,  as  well  as  artists,  Sir  A. 
i  Callcot  and  Sir  F.  Chantry,  were  applied  to;  the  former 
!  suggested  placing  Minerva  in  a  niche  of  lights,  and  the 
I  latter  adopted  the  notion  as  a  good  one  and  gave  a  plan 
for  the  purpose  ;  it  was  thought  original  and  highly 
appropriate.  But  when  we  (the  common  plain  mem- 
bers of  the  committee)  came  to  examine  the  matter,  we 
I  found  that  Minerva  would  probably  have  been  redhot 
before  the  evening  was  over,  or  more  likely  blistered, 
splintered,  or  fused ;  for,  to  add  to  the  joke,  we  found 
on  inquiry,  that,  to  render  her  waterproof,  she  had  been 
imbued  with  wax.  Now  although  Minerva's  power 
was  very  great,  and  her  attributes  superhuman,  I  do 
>not  remember  among  them  that  of  being  fireproof.  I 
jshall  have  some  fun  with  Sir  Francis  upon  this  matter. 

'I  have  not  said  half  that  I  had  intended,  but  have  filled 
my  paper.  Make  my  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Faraday, 
take  care  of  yourself,  and  when  you  feel  inclined  oblige 
me  with  a  line  or  two,  and  set  me  about  anything  I 
scan  do  for  you  to  relieve  you  of  trouble. 

«  Yours,  dear  Faraday,  very  sincerely, 
'  W.  T.  B. 

'  Professor  Faraday,  80  King's  Road,  Brighton.' 

Faraday  himself  drew  up  the  following  table  of  the 
'work  he  had  given  up  during  the  first  period  of  his 
[experimental  researches  in  electricity.  This  period 
lasted  for  ten  years. 


112 


LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 


jEt.  42-3,   1834. 

1834. 

JEt.  43-4,  1835. 
jEt.  44-5,  1836 
Ml.  46,  Nov.  1837* 
.St.  46-7,  1838. 

1838. 

Mt.  48,  Nov.  1839. 

Dec.  1839. 

JEt.  49,  Dec.  1840. 

JEt.  50,  Jan.  1841. 


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May 

gave 

up  I 

aster 

lectu 

res  and  all  other  business  at  R.I. 

His  niece,  Miss  Eeid,  who  lived  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Faraday  at  the  Institution,  has  thus  given  her  recollec- 
tions of  him  from  1830  to  1840: — 

'There  could  be  very  few  regular  lessons  at  the 
Institution,  there  were  so  many  breaks  and  interrup- 


THE   FIRST   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  113 

tions.     Sometimes  my  uncle  would  give  me  a  few  sums     1840. 
to  do,  and  he  always  tried  to  make  me  understand  the  ir.48-49. 
why  and  wherefore  of  everything  I  did.     Then  occa- 
sionally he  gave  me  a  reading  lesson.     How  patient  he 
was,  and  how  often  he  went  over  and  over  the  same 
passage  when  I  was  unusually  dense !     He  had  himself 
taken  lessons  from  Smart,  and  he  used  to  practise  read- 
ing with  exaggerated  emphasis  occasionally. 

'  In  the  earlier  days  of  the  Juvenile  Lectures  he  used 
to  encourage  me  to  tell  him  everything  that  struck  me, 
and  where  my  difficulties  lay  when  I  did  not  understand 
him  fully.  In  the  next  lecture  he  would  enlarge  on 
those  especial  points,  and  he  would  tell  me  my  remarks 
had  helped  him  to  make  things  clear  to  the  young  ones. . 
He  never  mortified  me  by  wondering  at  my  ignorance, 
never  seemed  to  think  how  stupid  I  was.  I  might 
begin  at  the  very  beginning  again  and  again ;  his 
patience  and  kindness  were  unfailing. 

'  A  visit  to  the  laboratory  used  to  be  a  treat  when 
the  busy  time  of  the  day  was  over. 

'  We  often  found  him  hard  at  work  on  experiments 
connected  with  his  researches,  his  apron  full  of  holes. 
If  very  busy  he  would  merely  give  a  nod,  and  aunt 
would  sit  down  quietly  with  me  in  the  distance,  till 
presently  he  would  make  a  note  on  his  slate  and  turn 
round  to  us  for  a  talk ;  or  perhaps  he  would  agree  to 
come  upstairs  to  finish  the  evening  with  a  game  at 
bagatelle,  stipulating  for  half  an  hour's  quiet  work  first 
to  finish  his  experiment.  He  was  fond  of  all  ingenious 
games,  and  he  always  excelled  in  them.  For  a  time  he 
took  up  the  Chinese  puzzle,  and,  after  making  all  the 
figures  in  the  book,  he  set  to  work  and  produced  a  new 
set  of  figures  of  his  own,  neatly  drawn,  and  perfectly 

VOL.  II.  I 


114  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1840.     accurate  in  their  proportions,  which  those  in  the  book 
J2T.48-49.  were  not.     Another  time,  when  he  had  been  unwell, 
he  amused  himself  with  Papyroplastics,  and  with  his 
dexterous  fingers  made  a  chest  of  drawers  and  pigeon- 
house,  &c. 

'  When  dull  and  dispirited,  as  sometimes  he  was  to 
an  extreme  degree,  my  aunt  used  to  carry  him  off  to 
Brighton,  or  somewhere,  for  a  few  days,  and  they 
generally  came  back  refreshed  and  invigorated.  Once 
they  had  very  wet  weather  in  some  out-of-the-way 
place,  and  there  was  a  want  of  amusement,  so  he  ruled 
a  sheet  of  paper  and  made  a  neat  draught-board,  on 
which  they  played  games  with  pink  and  white  lozenges 
for  draughts.  But  my  aunt  used  to  give  up  almost  all 
the  games  in  turn,  as  he  soon  became  the  better  player, 
and,  as  she  said,  there  was  no  fun  in  being  always 
beaten.  At  bagatelle,  however,  she  kept  the  supre- 
macy, and  it  was  long  a  favourite,  on  account  of  its 
being  a  cheerful  game  requiring  a  little  moving  about. 
c  Often  of  an  evening  they  would  go  to  the  Zoolo- 
gical Gardens  and  find  interest  in  all  the  animals,  espe- 
cially the  new  arrivals,  though  he  was  always  much 
diverted  by  the  tricks  of  the  monkeys.  We  have  seen 
him  laugh  till  the  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks  as  he 
watched  them.  He  never  missed  seeing  the  wonderful 
sights  of  the  day — acrobats  and  tumblers,  giants  and 
dwarfs  ;  even  Punch  and  Judy  was  an  unfailing  source 
of  delight,  whether  he  looked  at  the  performance  or  at 
the  admiring  gaping  crowd. 

'  He  was  very  sensitive  to  smells  ;  he  thoroughly 
enjoyed  a  cabbage  rose,  and  his  friends  knew  that  one 
was  sure  to  be  a  welcome  gift.  Pure  eau-de-Cologne 
he  liked  very  much ;  it  was  one  of  the  few  luxuries  of 


THE  FIRST   PERIOD   OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  115 

the  kind  that  he  indulged  in ;  musk  was  his  abhorrence,      1840. 
and  the  use  of  that  scent  by  his  acquaintance  annoyed  ifr.48-49. 
him  even  more  than  the  smell  of  tobacco,  which  was 
sufficiently  disagreeable  to  him.      The  fumes  from  a 
candle  or  oil-lamp  going  out  would  make  him  very 
angry.     On  returning  home  one  evening,  he  found  his 
rooms  full  of  the  odious  smell  from  an  expiring  lamp  ; 
he  rushed  to  the   window,  flung  it  up  hastily,   and 
brought   down  a  whole  row  of  hyacinth  bulbs  and 
flowers  and  glasses. 

'Mr.  Magrath  used  to  come  regularly  to  the  morning 
lectures,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  noting  down  for  him 
any  faults  of  delivery  or  defective  pronunciation  that 
could  be  detected.  The  list  was  always  received  with 
thanks;  although  his  corrections  were  not  uniformly 
adopted,  he  was  encouraged  to  continue  his  remarks 
with  perfect  freedom.  In  early  days  he  always  lectured 
with  a  card  before  him  with  Slow  written  upon  it  in 
distinct  characters.  Sometimes  he  would  overlook  it 
and  become  too  rapid ;  in  this  case  Anderson  had 
orders  to  place  the  card  before  him.  Sometimes  he 
had  the  word  "Time"  on  a  card  brought  forward 
when  the  hour  was  nearly  expired.' 


116  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 


APPENDIX  I.     CHAPTEE  I. 


1835.          The  following  letters  are  necessary  to  complete  the  story 
•  _  <      '   of  the  pension ;  they  are  full  of  traits  of  Faraday's  character. 

FARADAY   TO   SIR   JAMES   SOUTH. 

1  Koyal  Institution:  Nov.  6,  1835. 

'My  dear  Sir  James, — Need  I  say  how  thankful  I  am  to 
you  for  your  letter  and  Miss  Fox's  approval  ?  Now  I  have  no 
anxiety  :  those  whose  kindness  I  am  grateful  for,  and  whose 
approbation  I  am  anxious  to  have,  are  with  me,  and  I  hope 
that  in  doing  what  was  right  I  have  not  given  others  occasion 
to  have  one  evil  thought  of  me. 

'  Since  I  first  knew  of  the  affair,  nothing  has  been  nearer 
to  my  mind  than  the  desire,  whilst  I  preserved  my  self-respect, 
to  give  no  one  occasion  of  offence. 

4  As  you  have  been  the  bearer  of  Miss  Fox's  kind  expres- 
sions to  me,  will  you  do  me  a  last  favour,  by  placing  in  her 
hands  a  few  words  of  thanks  ?  I  think  I  ought  to  send  them, 
only  hoping  that  in  this  and  other  things  I  have  not  been 
too  much  obtruded  on  her  attention. 

'  And  now,  my  dear  Sir,  pray  let  me  drop.  I  know  you 
have  serious  troubles  of  your  own.  Do  not  let  me  be  one  any 
longer,  either  to  you  or  to  others.  You  have  my  most  grate- 
ful feelings  for  all  the  kindness  you  have  shown  to  him  who 
is  ever  truly  yours, 

« M.  FARADAY.' 


LETTERS   RESPECTING   HIS   PENSION.  H7 

1885. 

TO   THE   HONOURABLE   MISS   FOX.  ^r.  44. 

'  Royal  Institution :  Nov.  6,  1835. 

1  Madam,— My  feelings  prompt  me,  and  the  sight  of  your 
handwriting  encourages  me,  to  offer  you  in  few  words  my 
most  grateful  and  sincere  thanks  for  the  extraordinary  kind- 
ness which  you  have  shown  to  me  in  a  late  affair,  the  conclu- 
sion of  which  is  to  me  a  source  of  pleasure,  since  it  allows  me 
to  express  my  feelings  without  any  fear  of  a  mistaken  inter- 
pretation being  put  upon  them. 

<  Your  kind  expressions  and  invitation  I  do  not  merit,  and 
it  is  very  probable  that,  upon  a  nearer  view  of  me,  you  might 
think  that  your  present  estimate  of  my  character  is  much  too 
favourable.  But  I  shall  never  forget  that  what  you  know  of 
me  thus  far  has  gained  your  approbation,  and  it  will  be  doubly 
my  desire  and  pleasure  henceforward  to  deserve  and  retain  it. 
'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Madam,  with  the  most  sincere 
respect,  your  grateful  and  humble  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   THE   LADY   MARY   FOX. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  Nov.  23,  1835. 

4  My  Lady,— Permit  a  very  humble  person  to  intrude  for 
a  moment  on  your  Ladyship's  attention,  that  he  may  return 
his  heartfelt  thanks  for  all  the  kindness  you  have  shown  him 
I  scarcely  know  what  terms  to  use  by  which  I  may  express 
the  sincerity  of  those  thanks ;  but  I  will  trust  to  the  same 
kind  heart  which  was  ready  to  think  well  of  one  who  was  not 
known  to  you  in  person  or  in  act,  for  a  favourable  interpreta- 
tion of  my  feelings  at  the  present  moment. 

'Deep  and  anxious  thoughts  have  delayed  my  acknowledg- 
ment of  your  Ladyship's  kindness,  which,  however,  in  no 
state  of  mind  can  I  ever  forget,  and  which  I  trust  I  shall  ever 
strive  to  deserve. 


118  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.          *  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lady,  your  Ladyship's  most 
'  JETT*4 ""   grateful  and  humble  servant, 

« M.  FARADAY.' 


DR.   HOLLAND   TO   FARADAY. 

'  Lower  Brook  Street :  Nov.  29,  1835. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  saw  Lord  Melbourne  this  morning.  He 
begged  me  particularly  to  mention  to  you  that  the  King  had 
expressed  great  satisfaction  in  the  arrangement  made  as  to 
the  pension.  This  he  was  sure  it  would  be  gratifying  to  you 
to  learn. 

'  We  spoke  of  the  paper  which  has  appeared  in  the  "  Times;" 
with  the  same  generous  frankness  which  I  have  found  in  him 
throughout,  he  begs  you  not  to  be  disgusted  by  this  in  re- 
ference to  him.  Though  regretting  the  circumstance,  he  was 
prepared  for  the  likelihood  of  these  things  being  converted  to 
party  purposes.  He  concurs  in  the  impression  I  had  myself 
ventured  to  form  ;  that  it  is  better  (at  present  at  least)  to 
trust  for  refutation  to  the  simple  and  conscientious  declara- 
tions which  you,  I,  and  others,  are  able  to  make  on  the  sub- 
ject, whensoever  inquiries  or  comments  give  opportunity  for 
this.  I  would  fain  hope  that  even  yet  truth  and  justice  may 
be  satisfied  by  the  affirmation  we  can  explicitly  make,  that 
honour  and  generous  feeling  have  been  preserved  through- 
out. 

'  Believe  me,  my  dear  Faraday,  yours  very  faithfully, 

'  H.  HOLLAND.' 

FARADAY   TO   THE   RIGHT   HON.   LORD   HOLLAND. 

'Royal  Institution  :  December  1,  1835. 

'My  Lord, — I  have  seen  Dr.  Holland,  who  suggests  to  me 
to  write  to  your  Lordship,  and  say  that  he  thinks  no  steps  of 
a  public  nature  ought  to  be  entered  upon  without  Lord  Mel- 
bourne's consent,  since  it  might  lead  to  discussions  of  which 
we  cannot  see  the  end.  If  Lord  Melbourne  should  be  of  a 
different  opinion, then,  on  communicating  with  Dr.  Holland,  he 


LETTERS   RESPECTING   HIS   PENSION.  119 

with  Sir  James  South  will  be  able  to  take  such  steps  as  may      1835. 
under  existing  circumstances  appear  to  be  most  expedient.        ^3^.  ^ 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most 
obedient,  humble  servant, 

« M.  FARADAY.' 


DR.    HOLLAND   TO   FARADAY. 

4  Lower  Brook  Street :  December  2,  1835. 

'My  dear  Faraday, — I  very  reluctantly  write  anything 
further,  on  a  subject  which  I  know  to  be  harassing  to  you ; 
but  I  cannot  do  otherwise  than  forward  this  letter  of  Lord 
Holland's,  which  I  have  just  received.  It  is  manifest  that  he 
considers  (as  Miss  Fox  and  some  others  have  done)  that  Lord 
Melbourne's  indifference  to  his  own  public  vindication  from 
this  injurious  paper  is  not  to  be  taken  as  a  justification  for 
omitting  this  ;  and  possibly  they  are  right,  though  I  still 
incline  to  think  that  such  explanation  of  the  truth  might  have 
been  attained  by  private  statement,  made  fully  and  explicitly 
whenever  occasion  occurred. 

'  But  as  there  is  doubt  on  the  subject,  might  not  a  very 
brief  letter  be  written  under  some  such  form  as  Lord  H. 
suggests,  or  beginning  thus,  "  That  a  published  statement  had 
been  put  into  your  hands,  very  inaccurate  in  many  respects, 
and  likely  to  convey  impressions  very  different  from  the  truth, 
that  though  not  entitled  to  state  the  details  of  what  had  passed 
between  Lord  M.  and  yourself,  in  the  progress  of  this  trans- 
action, yet  you  felt  it  right,  &c. ;  "  and  then  to  state  briefly 
your  sense  of  Lord  M.'s  honourable  and  generous  conduct, 
and  of  the  satisfaction  it  gave  to  your  own  feelings  in  the 
transaction  ?  I  do  but  simply  suggest,  however,  what,  if  you 
judge  it  right  to  do  this,  you  will  much  better  express  in  your 
own  words ;  there  would  be  this  advantage  in  doing  it,  that 
I  think  it  would  assuredly  and  completely  close  the  whole 
business.  Everything  privately  said  by  us  would  be  in  full 
concurrence  with  it,  and  at  the  same  time  with  still  more 
explicit  declaration  of  the  high  sense  of  honour  shown  by 
yourself  in  every  part  of  the  transaction.  Nor  do  I  think 


120  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.  another  word  could  be  said  elsewhere  on  the  subject.  I  state 
^ErTlir  everything  as  it  occurs  to  me,  and  would  rather  have  sought 
opportunity  of  doing  it  by  calling  upon  you,  had  I  not  been 
engaged  with  patients  in  other  directions  this  evening.  You 
must  excuse,  therefore,  a  hastily  written  note,  and  believe  me, 
ever  yours,  my  dear  Faraday, 

<H.  HOLLAND. 

'  I  presume  Lord  H.  will  see  Lord  Melbourne  to-day  or  to- 
morrow, but  he  speaks  as  if  he  perceived  with  certainty  that 
Lord  M.  could  not  object  to  what  he  himself  suggests. 

*  I  trust  you  will  not  hesitate  from  fear  of  troubling  me, 
if  you  wish  that  we  should  meet  for  further  communication 
on  the  subject,  or  to  arrange  a  meeting  with  Sir  J.  South.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.    HOLLAND. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  December  2,  1835. 

'My  dear  Sir, — Your  letter  distresses  me,  for  I  thought 
that  mine  to  Lord  Holland  would  have  intimated  that  I  was 
willing  to  do  all  I  ought  to  do  to  relieve  others  from  incon- 
venience (though  in  no  way  the  cause  of  it),  but  that  I  durst 
not  in  doing  so  place  myself  in  a  false  and  dangerous  position. 
This  I  should  be  doing  were  I  to  proceed  without  Sir  James 
South.  The  affair  is  actually  more  his  than  mine ;  he  is  more 
concerned  in  the  matter,  and  he  knows  more  about  it  than  I 
do ;  his  character  is  as  much  at  stake  as  mine ;  he  has  been 
accepted  by  Lord  Melbourne  through  you  as  my  representa- 
tive. I  am  willing  to  do  anything  that  he  and  you  may  ad- 
vise, for  I  feel  sure  that  neither  would  propose  what  I  could 
not  assent  to.  Let  me  then  say  distinctly,  that  I  cannot  take 
a  single  step  in  this  affair  without  him,  and  that  it  is  with  him, 
and  not  with  me,  that  Lord  Melbourne's  friends  should  com- 
municate. Let  me  pray  you,  therefore,  to  communicate 
Lord  Holland's  letter  (which  I  return)  to  him,  and  I  shall 
wait  until  you  two  tell  me  what  to  do. 

*  Excuse  me,  my  dear  Sir,  for  speaking  plainly  in  this 
matter,  but  I  perceive  that  unless  I  do  so,  very  serious  con- 


LETTERS   RESPECTING   HIS  PENSION.  121 

sequences  may  arise.     The  pension  is  a  matter  of  indifference      1835. 
to  me,  but  other  results,  some  of  which  have  already  come  to   "JET[  44." 
pass,  are  not  so ;  the  continued  renewal  of  this  affair  to  my 
mind,  and  that  in  a  manner  hesitating,  dilatory,  and  change- 
able,  is  not  consistent  with  my  feelings,  and  tempts  me  at 
times  to  what  might  be  thought  very  ungenerous  under  the 
circumstances,  namely,  even  at  this  late  hour,   a  determined 
refusal  of  the  whole. 

1  Trusting,  however,  that  all  these  difficulties  will  vanish 
upon  your  communicating  with  Sir  James  South, 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  your  truly  grateful  and  obliged 

« M.  FARADAY.* 

FARADAY  TO  MISS   FOX. 

'  Royal  Institution:  December  12,  1835. 

*  My  dear  Madam, — Accept  my  most  grateful  thanks  for 
your  kind  letter  which  I  have  just  received.     Most  sincerely 
do  I  regret  that  I  cannot  comply  with  the  wish  expressed  in 
it,  as  I  am  persuaded  that  any  statement  of  mine  in  the  public 
papers  cannot  NOW  be  attended  with  any  advantage  to  either 
party. 

*  Repeating  my  heartfelt  gratitude  to  you  for  the  kind 
interest  you  have  shown  me  during  the  whole  transaction,  I 
have  the  honour  to  subscribe  myself,  my  dear  Madam,  your 
most  obedient,  faithful  servant, 

<M.  FARADAY.' 

This  letter  is  in  Sir  James  South's  writing. 


FARADAY   TO    THE    RIGHT   HON.    LORD   VISCOUNT   MELBOURNE, 
FIRST   LORD  OF   THE   TREASURY. 

'  Royal  Institution:  December  30,  1835. 

4  My  Lord, — I  intrude,  perhaps  improperly,  to  thank  your 
Lordship  again  for  the  great  kindness  and  condescension  which 
your  Lordship  has  shown  me  in  the  late  affair  of  the  pension, 
and  to  ask  a  further  grace ;  the  good  opinion  of  me  which 


122  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1835.      your  Lordship  has  expressed  as  being  the  foundation  of  the 
^Er.  44.     former  affair,  encouraging  me  to  hope  I  shall  not  be  considered 
intrusive  in  the  present. 

'  Professor  Magnus  of  Berlin  has  sent  me  some  potassium, 
sodium,  and  other  articles  in  a  tin  box  enclosed  in  a  package 
consigned  to  Messrs.  Hamilton,  Koch,  and  Co.  The  tin  box, 
the  contents  of  which  are  entirely  for  purpose  of  philosophical 
investigation,  has  been  stopped  at  the  Custom  House,  and  the 
favour  I  have  to  ask  of  your  Lordship  is  that  it  may  be  allowed 
to  pass — the  things  that  are  not  in  the  tin  box  pay  duty 
regularly.  The  contents  of  the  box,  if  I  had  to  pay  for  them 
at  Berlin,  would  not  cost  me,  I  believe,  more  than  3£.  or  4£., 
but  it  is  their  peculiarity  which  makes  the  difficulty  at  the 
Custom  House. 

*  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most 
obliged  and  grateful  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


LORD  MELBOURNE  TO  FARADAY. 

'  Panshanger:  January  2,  1836. 

«  Sir, — I  have  again  to  express  my  gratification  that  the 
matter  of  the  pension  terminated  in  so  amicable  a  manner,  and 
I  beg  to  return  you  my  thanks  for  your  willingness,  expressed 
through  Dr.  Holland,  to  contradict  any  injurious  statements 
in  the  public  prints.  The  best  course  was  followed,  which 
was  to  terminate  the  discussion  as  soon  as  possible.  I  will 
give  directions  to  have  everything  that  is  possible  done  at  the 
customs  about  your  box  from  Berlin,  and  as  speedily  as 
possible. 

1  Believe  me,  yours  faithfully, 

*  MELBOURNE.' 

FARADAY  TO  MISS  FOX. 

1  Koyal  Institution :  January  30,  1836. 

4  Dear  Madam, — You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Lord  Mel- 
bourne, who  lately  did  me  the  great  favour  to  pass  some 


LETTERS   RESPECTING   HIS   PENSION.  123 

foreign  scientific  articles  at  the  Custom  House  which  would      1835. 

not  have  been  allowed  but  for  such  authority,  in  a  letter  with  "  ^  4~ ' 

which  his  Lordship  honoured  me,  expressed  his  approbation 

of  the  course  pursued  in  a  late  occasion  as  being  that  which 

was  decidedly  the  best.     This  was  the  spontaneous  opinion 

of  his  Lordship,  there  being  no  allusion  to  that  course  on  my 

part. 

'  With  the  sincerest  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness, 
I  ain,  dear  Madam,  your  much  obliged  and  faithful  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


MISS  FOX  TO   FAKADAT. 

'Ordnance  Office  :  Tuesday  evening,  February  16,  1836. 

( Dear  Sir, — On  returning  home,  after  an  absence  of  more 
than  two  months,  I  found  your  letter.  .  .  I  am  very  glad 
indeed,  and  not  at  all  surprised,  to  hear  of  Lord  Melbourne's 
civility  ;  he  is  no  egotist — frank,  generous,  and  manly ;  and 
you  must  allow  me  to  say  that  in  a  case  where  an  unfair  im- 
pression has  been  given  of  the  conduct  of  a  man  of  such  a 
character,  he  is  the  very  last  person  to  be  consulted,  or  to 
require  the  contradiction  of  an  aspersion  which  he  is  conscious 
is  utterly  undeserved;  but  his  friends  probably  did,  and  do 
still,  think  otherwise,  though  now  certainly  the  time  is  gone 
by  for  drawing  public  attention  to  the  subject. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  very  true  respect  and  regard,  yours, 

'  CAROLINE  Fox.' 


124  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

.  1832:^  APPENDIX  II. 

^Ex.40-41. 

1.  * 

2.  *  Water   on   top   of  tube  heated — then  connected  with  upper 

vessel  and  currents 

3.  *  Flask  of  water  with  indigo  below  heated  5' 


4.  *  Copper  kettle  over  ring  gas  flame — for  simmering 

5.  *  Water  under  air-pump  to  evolve  air 

6.  * 

7.  *  Steam  from  our  boiler  through  a  pipe  in  a  jar  of  water 

8.  *  12' 


9.  *  Hot  thick  capsule — spheroidal  water — thermometer  in  208°  F. 

10.  *  Not  touch.     Iodine  and  its  effects 

11.  *  Hot  piece  of  silver  in  little  water 

12.  *  Potassium  in  water  residue  and  final  explosion  20' 


13.  *  Bent  tube   with   water  —  standing  of  the   column  —  water 

hammer 

14.  *  Water  crackling  in  oil  flame,  large,  tow  on  wire 

15.  *  Wet  paper  into  oil  heated  in  a  tube 

16.  * 

17.  *  30 


18.  * 

19.  *  Warm  water  under  air-pump 

20.  *  Water  in  retort  boiling — cork  up  and  dip  in  cold  water      40' 


21.  *  Chinese  or  Indian  saucepans.      Savages,  Newfoundlanders, 

drawing 

22.  *  Pipkins — enamelled  vessels 

23.  *  Boil  water  in  paper  by   steam — cook  chestnuts  in  box  15 

or  20  45' 


24.  *  Furred  kettle — deposits — eggs,  &c.     San  Fillippo  casts 

25.  *  Distilled  water  and  fur  in  flask  boiling — add  muriate  of  am- 

monia and  test 

26.  *  Two  flasks  boiling — add  muriate  of  ammonia  to  one — clear 

it  55' 


27.  *  Flask  of  water  and  gold  leaf — bucket  to  collect 

28.  *  Model  of  Perkins's  boiler  60' 


29.  *  Large  clean  flask  of  acid  water — filings  in 


30.  *  Gold  paper  or  leaf  on  finger  and  hot  ball — black  pigment 

31.  * 

32.  * 


NOTES  FOE  A  LECTURE  OX  A  KETTLE.  125 

CHAPTEE  I.  ^S^- 

.Er.40-41. 
Fine  extension  of  current  principle     2         all  parts  heated     3 


Effects  of  the  heat— Simmering     4         Tea-urn,  dependent  upon  the 
air  naturally  in  the  water     5 

Soiling — \hefixed  temperature — in  cooling,  &c. 
The  heat  lost  or  stored  in  the  steam     7 


Consider  the  point  of  change  in  open  air  or  pressure  of  air 

First,  is  lowest  in  the  hottest  vessels.     Boutigny,  205°  F. 

9         10         11         12 
Next,  ordinary  state,  212°.     Varying  a  little  with  vessels. 


Next  pure  water  and  its  temperature.  Denny,  275°  F.  3  atmo- 
spheres 13  14  15 

"Wonderful  to  see  how  the  true  point  in  water  is  never  the  ordinary 
point — and  how  we  are  protected  by  comparatively  trifling  cir- 
cumstances. Besides  these  considerations 


Effect  of  pressure  on  the  boiling  point 

Increase 

Diminution         19         20 

Substance  of  boilers  and  modes  of  boiling 
21         22  23 


Fur  deposits     24  and  clearance     25         26 


Places  of  rest  in  boilers     27  and  their  use     28 


Nuclei     29 


Black  bottoms  to  vessels     30 
Exception  to  expansion  in  water. 


126  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 


CHAPTER  II. 

REST  BETWEEN  THE  PERIODS  OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES 
— SWISS  JOURNAL — *  NATURE  OF  MATTER.' 

1841.  Loss  of  memory  and  giddiness  had  long,  occasionally, 
^^do.  troubled  Faraday,  and  obliged  him  to  stop  his  work. 
But  now  they  entirely  put  an  end  to  all  his  experiments. 
For  four  years,  with  the  exception  of  an  inquiry  into 
the  cause  of  the  electricity  produced  by  a  jet  of  steam, 
no  experimental  researches  in  electricity  were  made. 
For  a  year  he  rested  almost  entirely,  he  gave  no  lectures, 
and  he  went  for  three  months  to  Switzerland.  After  a 
year  he  began  again  to  work  for  the  Institution,  and 
when  he  did  go  on  with  his  researches,  he  returned  to 
the  liquefaction  of  the  gases. 

In  different  ways  he  showed  much  of  his  character 
during  this  period  of  rest.  The  journal  he  kept  of  his 
Swiss  tour  is  full  of  kindness,  and  gentleness,  and 
beauty.  It  shows  his  excessive  neatness.  It  has  the 
different  mountain  flowers  which  he  gathered  in  his 
walks  fixed  in  it,  as  few  but  Faraday  himself  could  have 
fixed  them.  His  letters  are  free  from  the  slightest  sign 
of  mental  disease.  His  only  illness  was  overwork,  and 
his  only  remedy  was  rest. 

Almost  the  only  work  he  did  in  1841  was  for  the 
Trinity  House.  For  the  Eoyal  Institution  he  did  all  he 
could ;  he  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  at  Christmas  on 
chemistry. 


HIS  REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIA^7TAL   RESEARCHES.  127 

On   February  2,  he  went  down  to  St.  Catherine's      1841. 
lighthouse  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  to  remedy  the  conden-  JET.49-50. 
sation  of  moisture  on  the  glass  in  the  inside.     On  the 
6th  he  returned  home,  '  quite  satisfied  with  the  chimney, 
and  have  no  doubt  we  shall  have  a  lantern  quite  clear 
from  sweat,   and   also   much  cleaner,  both  as  to  the 
mirrors  and  roof,  from  soot  and  blackness,  than  hereto- 
fore.' 

This  was  the  beginning  of  his  system  of  ventilation 
in  lighthouses,  and  gradually  he  had  it  carried  out  in 
all .  the  lighthouses  of  England.  He  did  other  work 
for  the  Trinity  House  in  May  and  June,  but  nothing  of 
importance. 

The  only  honour  he  received  was  an  offer  to  lecture 
"in  America. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Lowell,  of  Boston,  U.S.,  invited  him  to  give 
twelve  lectures  at  the  Boston  Institution,  on  chemistry 
and  its  applications.  '  I  should  not  have  presumed  to 
apply  to  Mr.  Faraday,'  he  said,  l  had  not  Dr.  "Warren 
reported  that  Mr.  F.  had  expressed  a  wish  to  visit  this 
country.  The  remuneration  would  be  450/.' 

The  Swiss  Journal  begins  thus  : — 

Wednesday,  June  30^. — Left  London  at  half-past 
six.  o'clock  by  steamboat.  Had  fine  day  to  Ostend. 
Arrived  there  about  half-past  six  P.M.  (Mr.  George 
Barnard  and  Mrs.  Barnard  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faraday.) 

Sunday,  July  kth. — Stopped  at  Aix ;  comfortable 
n  our  apartments ;  a  busy  feast ;  procession  day  in  the 
town  in  honour  of  St.  Peter,  or  rather  of  a  church 
called  after  his  name ;  many  priests,  women  and 
children  dressed  in  white,  men,  &c.,  with  much  singing 
and  music ;  the  procession  lasted  many  hours ;  flowers 


128  LIFE   OF   FAB  AD  AT. 

1841.  were  strewn  in  the  way,  garlands  hung  across  the 
^Er.49-50.  streets,  whole  trees  cut  down,  and  stuck  up  at  the 
doors,  &c.  ;  a  quiet  walk  to  Borcette. 

Monday,  5th. — Left  Aix  in  a  carriage,  and  reached 
Cologne  by  seven  o'clock  P.M Bought  some  eau- 
de-Cologne  at  one  of  the  thirty  veritable  manufacturers  ; 
took  some  trouble  with  George  to  find  out  the  shop, 
which  was  the  wrong  one  ;  the  right  one  was  so  evi- 
dent, we  thought  it  suspicious  ;  inn  very  noisy  all  night, 
but  the  view  from  our  window  beautiful — moon  and 
river. 

Tuesday,  6th. — Took  steamboat  at  seven  o'clock  this 
morning,  and  are  now  at  Coblentz,  having  done  this 
by  four  o'clock Ehrenbreitstein  is  just  now  glo- 
riously illuminated  by  the  setting  sun,  glowing  as  if  on 
fire.  Have  walked  out  to  see  the  Moselle  and  bridge  over 
it ;  also  that  fine  specimen  of  honour  and  glory  set  up 
jointly  by  the  French  and  Eussian  authorities  in  suc- 
cession. It  is  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  word  that 
all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.  Eains  now. 

Wednesday,  1th. — Left  Coblentz  by  steamboat  at  six 
o'clock,  and  passed  the  most  beautiful  part  of  the 
Ehine.  Is  certainly  wonderful,  and  the  castles  !  what 
scenes  must  have  been  witnessed  there  in  former 
times  I 

Thursday,  8th. — The  morning  found  us  still  on  the 
wTater,  for  going  against  the  stream  is  hard  work  ;  the 
river  very  diffuse ;  many  islands  and  overflowings ; 
country  flat  and  uninteresting,  but  rich  and  verdant ; 
at  about  half-past  four  reached  Strasburg,  and  put  up 
at  a  good  inn  ;  went  to  see  the  wonderful  cathedral ; 
ascended  the  tower,  saw  the  market-place,  the  fine 
old  houses,  the  storks  on  their  summits:  it  being 


HIS    REST    BETWEEN    HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  129 

evening  time,  they  came  in,   alighting  on  the  sharp     1841. 
high  roofs  as  I  looked  at  them.     The  cathedral  was    JET.W. 
in  the  finest  state  possible,  and  the  houses  in  perfect 
harmony  with  it ;    glorious  clouds  and  lights ;    good 
weather  to-day,  but  some  showers. 

Friday,  9th. — Ean  about  the  town  a  little,  in  fact  all 
round  it ;  the  storks  very  interesting,  rising  from  their 
nests,  and  the  markets  all  in  the  highest  activity.  At 
the  fish  market,  all  the  fish  were  alive,  and  swimming 
in  flat  vessels  containing  water.  When  sold,  they 
were  weighed  in  nets,  and  then  killed  by  a  blow. 
Prepared  frogs  were  very  abundant,  the  hind  legs 
being  strung  on  small  willows  and  sold  in  bundles,  or 
rather  rows,  and  the  bodies  in  a  separate  parcel ;  of 
the  latter,  however,  there  were  not  so  many.  Went 
into  the  cathedral ;  I  like  it  better  within  by  evening 
light ;  I  think  the  glass  looks  better  ;  when  the  sun  is 
full  on  a  window  it  is  not  so  good  as  when  the 
shadow  of  a  buttress  falls  on  parts  ;  and  as  the  lights 
decay  towards  evening,  they  sink  faster  on  opaque 
objects  than  on  transparent  ones,  seen  from  within, 
and  thus  the  contrast  between  the  walls  and  the 
windows  is  much  greater  in  the  evening ;  but  the 
windows  are  exceedingly  beautiful  at  any  time.  Ser- 
vice was  going  on  in  various  parts,  and  much  food  for 
reflection  supplied  by  the  people.  The  inside  of  the 
cathedral  disappoints  me ;  the  outside  is  wonderful.  I 
think  it  could  not  have  been  constructed  with  any 
other  stone  than  the  fine-grained  sandstone  which  has 
been  employed.  It  unites  that  strength,  durability, 
and  facility  of  working  which  were  essential  for  a 
work  at  once  so  large  in  its  mass,  and  so  delicate  in 

VOL.  II.  K 


130  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1&41.     its  details.     As  a  whole,  the  exterior  of  the  cathedral 
MT.  49.    disappoints  me,  i.e.  its  general  form   is  meagre  and 
poor  in  effect,  .but  its  parts  are  wonderful ;  its  height 
about  500  feet,  and  so  perpendicular. 

Saturday,  Wth. — Left  Bale  by  voiturier,  on  our  way 
to  Berne.  The  day  rainy  throughout,  but  on  the 
whole  this  not  bad  for  us.  For  as  our  way  lay  through 
the  valley  of  the  Miinsterthal,  the  principal  scenery 
was  close  scenery,  and  we  had  water  effect  in  per- 
fection. The  river  by  the  road  was  full,  and  running 
over  in  places  ;  trees  and  a  door  I  saw  sweeping  down 
on  its  surface  ;  the  waters  very  turbid,  streams  and 
jets  of  water  on  all  sides  of  us ;  fine  cascades  ;  per- 
pendicular or  overhanging  rocks  of  the  most  beautiful 
characters,  some  1,200  or  more  feet  high,  and  the 
trees  growing  out  of  the  crevices  in  a  most  curious 
way  ;  in  one  place,  the  perpendicular  surface  of  a  vast 
rock  was  so  moistened  by  the  water  running  over  it 
from  the  land  above,  and  so  making  some  parts  darker 
than  others,  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  churches, 
houses,  and  buildings,  and  at  first  I  thought  a  town 
was  before  me  in  the  distance ;  the  strata  were  in  many 
places  vertical,  and  the  rocky  ribs  most  wonderful. 
We  arrived  at  Moutiers  in  good  time,  and  purpose 
stopping  here  to-morrow. 

Sunday,  llfA. — Eested  in  this  pretty  Swiss  village, 
which  is  in  the  canton  of  Berne.  At  half-past  five 
woke  up  by  the  horn  of  the  cow-herd,  gathering  his 
charge  together,  as  they  issued  from  the  doors  of  the 
different  houses,  each  with  a  bell,  and  conducted  them 
one  way  out  of  the  town.  In  a  short  time  afterwards, 
the  shepherd  moved  by,  and  the  sheep  appeared  at 
the  doors  and  in  the  road ;  the  goats  came  forth  with 


HIS    REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  131 

them,  at  the  call  of  a  goat-herd,  who  tooted  a  cow's     1841 
horn ;  these  mingled  together  at  the  corner  place  by  li^lT 
the  inn  until  the  two  men  moved  towards  different 
directions,   when  the  sheep  and  goats  spontaneously 
separated,  winding  in  and  out  amongst  one  another, 
and  the  goats  straggled  away  up  the  hill,  followed  by 
their  keeper,  whilst   the   sheep  followed  their  guide 
into  the  valley  below ;  it  reminded  one  strongly  of  the 
parable. 

We  passed  the  day  very  quietly  here ;  much  rain, 
but  still  appearing  to  clear  and  mend ;  about  four 
o'clock,  the  cattle  and  sheep  and  goats  came  home 
again,  and  it  was  pleasant  to  see  them  and  their 
owners  meet  again,  the  creatures  anxious  for  their 
homes  and  the  kind  care  of  their  owners.  The  people 
seem  to  treat  their  horses,  cattle,  &c.  kindly,  and  the 
animals,  consequently,  seem  to  have  more  intelligence 
and  more  freedom  of  action,  which  they  show  distinctly, 
for  if  anything  occurs,  they  look  on  as  if  with  con- 
siderable interest,  to  examine  and  observe  the  con- 
sequences. 

Tuesday,  13^.— About  two  o'clock  started  (from 
Berne)  for  Thun,  and  after  three  or  four  hours'  drive 
arrived  here,  having  had  both  rain  and  fine  weather 
on  the  road.  These  Alps  grow  in  beauty  greatly 
as  one  approaches  them,  and  we  have  had  the 
finest  mixtures  of  these  and  the  clouds  which  man 
can  imagine,  the  latter  at  last  dissolving  in  rain  and 
rejoining  the  earth.  The  beauty  increased  as  we 
advanced  up,  not  only  to  Thun,  but  to  the  Hotel  Belle 
Vue,  to  which  we  came.  Here  we  rest  for  a  week,  or 
two  or  three  perhaps,  and  are  delightfully  situated 
having  the  upper  floor  of  a  house  separate  from  the 


K    2 


132  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1841.     hotel,  and  opposite  the  lake  and  mountains.     We  may 

^jErT^  be  as  quiet  as  mice  here,  if  we  like ;  George  is  in  high 

glee  with  the  tones  of  the  scenery,  and  means  to  make 

much  of  it.     Our  dear  wives  also  enjoy  the  thought 

of  the  week's  rest  and  pleasure. 

Wednesday  >  14th. — Having  come  to  a  home,  our 
hours  are  to  be  very  regular,  for  irregularity  is  un- 
economical ;  we  breakfast  at  seven  in  our  house,  dine 
at  one  o'clock  at  the  table  d'hote  in  another  house,  tea 
at  seven,  or  thereabout,  and  propose  going  to  bed  at 
nine  o'clock  ;  as  for  supper,  we  don't  think  of  it ;  we 
do  not  find  the  many  rolls  and  loaves  too  much.  As 
for  the  fashion  of  the  dinner,  it  is  anything  but  agree- 
able, to  ine,  but  it  satisfies  the  appetite,  and  that  is  a 
great  point. 

The  river  and  lake  are  beautiful  to-day,  and  the 
mountains  also.  George  made  a  regular  artistical 
examination  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  to-day, 
and  I  went  with  him,  imbibing  the  picturesque ;  there 
is  certainly  plenty  of  it  ;  the  morning  was  sunny  and 
beautiful,  and  the  afternoon  was  stormy,  and  equally 
beautiful ;  so  beautiful  I  never  saw  the  like.  A  storm 
came  on,  and  the  deep  darkness  of  one  part  of  the 
mountains,  the  bright  sunshine  of  another  part,  the 
emerald  lights  of  the  distant  forests  and  glades  under 
the  edge  of  the  cloud  were  magnificent.  Then  came 
on  lightning,  and  the  Alp  thunder  rolling  beautifully ; 
and  to  finish  all,  a  flash  struck  the  church,  which  is  a 
little  way  from  us,  and  set  it  on  fire,  but  no  serious 
harm  resulted,  as  it  was  soon  put  out.  This  evening  it 
still  continues  raining,  but  the  lightning  is  over. 

Friday  ~\.Qth. — Took  a  long  walk  to  the  valley 
called  the  Simmenthal,  which  goes  off  from  the  valley 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  133 

of  the  lake  ;  the  day  was  fine,  and    I  made  about     1841. 
twenty-five  miles  there  and  back.  jET.'-wT 

The  frogs  were  very  beautiful,  lively,  vocal,  and  in- 
telligent, and  not  at  all  fearful.  The  butterflies,  too, 
became  familiar  friends  with  me,  as  I  sat  under  the 
trees  on  the  river's  bank.  It  is  wonderful  how  much  in- 
telligence all  these  animals  show  when  they  are  treated 
kindly  and  quietly ;  when,  in  fact,  they  are  treated 
as  having  their  right  and  part  in  creation,  instead  of 
being  frightened,  oppressed,  and  destroyed. 

Monday,  19^A. — Very  fine  day ;  walk  with  dear 
Sarah  on  the  lake  side  to  Oberhofen,  through  the 
beautiful  vineyards  ;  very  busy  were  the  women  and 
men  in  trimming  the  vines,  stripping  off'  leaves  and 
tendrils  from  fruit-bearing  branches.  The  churchyard 
was  beautiful,  and  the  simplicity  of  the  little  remem- 
brance posts  set  upon  the  graves  very  pleasant.  One 
who  had  been  too  poor  to  put  up  an  engraved  brass 
plate,  or  even  a  painted  board,  had  written  with  ink 
on  paper  the  birth  and  death  of  the  being  whose 
remains  were  below,  and  this  had  been  fastened  to  a 
board,  and  mounted  on  the  top  of  a  stick  at  the  head 
of  the  grave,  the  paper  being  protected  by  a  little  edge 
and  roof.  Such  was  the  simple  remembrance,  but 
nature  had  added  her  pathos,  for  under  the  shelter  by 
the  waiting,  a  caterpillar  had  fastened  itself,  and  passed 
into  its  deathlike  state  of  chrysalis,  and  having  ulti- 
mately assumed  its  final  state,  it  had  winged  its  way 
from  the  spot,  and  had  left  the  corpse-like  relics  behind. 
How  old  and  how  beautiful  is  this  figure  of  the  resur- 
rection !  surely  it  can  never  appear  before  our  eyes 
without  touching  the  thoughts. 


134  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1841.  Wednesday,  21st. — Fine  morning,  roused  early  by  the 
JET.  49.  village  (Fruchtigen)  goat-herd,  blowing  his  shell  (for  it 
•  was  a  shell  he  used  for  the  purpose),  and  the  goats 
came  bleating  out  of  the  houses.  The  flock  which  he 
gathered  was  a  good-sized  one.  In  the  night  I  was 
roused  by  the  watchman  singing  out  the  hour  and 
certain  lines  of  salutation,  very  pleasant  as  expressing 
kindly  feeling  in  a  kind  tone,  but  it  was  perhaps  not 
necessary  to  waken  one  out  of  sleep  for  such  a  purpose. 
After  breakfast  we  walked  off,  and  in  two  hours  and 
a  half,  mounting  most  of  the  distance,  we  came  to 
Kandersteg,  nearly  at  the  top  of  the  valley  of  the 
Kander. 

After  refreshment  here  we  walked  up  a  valley  rising 
very  rapidly  to  the  small  lake  Oeschinen,  which  we 
found  enclosed  by  mountains,  many  of  them  covered 
with  snow,  and  into  which  were  falling  eight  streams 
of  water  in  different  places  from  the  snow  above. 
Here  was  very  grand  scenery.  Eocks  high  and  preci- 
pitous. Torrent  courses.  The  Alpine  rose  or  rhodo- 
dendron, very  beautiful.  Monkshood  also  very  fine 
growing  in  the  water,  and  in  many  places  the  whole 
plant,  though  in  full  flower,  was  entirely  under  the 
water,  standing  upright,  and  looking  very  healthy  and 
proper.  While  ascending  to  this  place  I  was  very 
tired,  but  a  little  rest  restored  me.  The  call  which 
rising  or  climbing  makes  upon  the  lungs  is  very  dis- 
tinct and  remarkable,  and  the  air  here  is  so  attenuated 
that  the  same  amount  of  breathing  does  not  do  half 
the  good  it  would  below.  George  sat  down  to  sketch. 
I  rambled  about  awhile.  The  courses  of  the  tor- 
rents or  avalanches  here  are  marked  by  very  striking 
appearances ;  a  long  line  of  pines  swept  down  and 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  135 

broken  or  splintered  in  every  possible  way,  but  all  1841. 
in  one  direction,  give  sufficient  information  of  the  "lE^T^T 
power.  In  some  of  these  places  the  upturned  pines 
have  lain  so  long  that  they  are  rotten  throughout. 
There  are  the  stones,  too,  large  and  small,  which  formed 
part  of  the  destroying  storm.  Keturning  to  George,  I 
found  him  hard  at  work  in  the  course  of  an  avalanche, 
and  I  took  a  seat  behind  him  for  a  while,  using  for  that 
purpose  both  a  pine  and  the  stone  which  had  over- 
turned it.  Heard  a  good  deal  of  murmuring  thunder- 
ing noise,  but  whether  of  thunder  or  avalanches  in  the 
distance,  or  waterfalls,  could  not  tell. 

The  baths  of  Leuk  are  4,500  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea.  We  went  to  see  our  room  in  the  inn  and 
wash,  and  then  before  dinner  went  to  the  baths  to  see 
the  poor  creatures  bathing,  for  'the  time  was  on,  being 
from  two  o'clock  until  five.  Our  house  was  the  Maison 
Blanche.  Just  before  this  is  an  abundant  natural 
source  of  hot  water,  arranged  in  a  little  masonry,  at 
which  people  drink,  and  from  which  the  water  flows 
into  the  baths.  We  were  forewarned  that  a  certain 
square  wooden  building  before  us  was  the  baths,  by  a 
great  noise  and  outcry  of  human  voices,  issuing  from  it 
as  from  a  penny  theatre;  and  we  were  also  told  we 
might  enter  by  certain  doors  and  see  the  bathers ;  we 
did  so,  and  entering,  found  ourselves  on  a  raised  plat- 
form going  across  the  building,  and  on  each  side  of 
and  beneath  us  were  two  tanks,  making  four  altogether, 
filled  with  water  and  human  creatures.  The  tanks 
were  like  each  other,  and  each  was  about  five  feet 
deep,  and  had  benches  round  the  four  sides  on  which 
the  bathers  sat,  so  as  to  be  immersed  up  to  the  neck  in 
the  clear  fluid.  The  people  had  gowns  on,  and  their 


136 


LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 


1841.  heads,  being  safe  as  regarded  the  water,  were  handsomely 
JET.  49.  decorated  ;  for  the  males  wore  gay  caps  embroidered, 
&c.,  and  the  females  also  had  their  appropriate  head- 
gear, decked  out  with  ribbons  and  flowers.  It  is  very 
odd,  but  I  cannot  comfortably  call  them  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  for  neither  the  appearance,  the  grouping,  nor 
the  sounds  seemed  to  partake  of  such  character,  and 
yet  this  is  all  mere  matter  of  custom  and  understood 
usage.  The  heads  of  the  people  were  about  level  with 
our  feet,  and  as  we  looked  down  upon  them,  some  of 
the  gents  seemed  quite  willing  to  talk  and  joke  with  us. 
I  could  not  help  thinking  that,  feeling  they  must  form 
a  ridiculous  object  to  a  new  comer,  they  had  tacitly 
agreed  to  make  common  cause  against  such,  and  by 
loud  remarks,  laughter,  and  jokes,  to  put  him  down  as 
soon  as  possible.  In  the  middle  of  some  of  the  tanks 
were  handsome  nosegays,  raised  on  central  tables. 
Little  floating  tables  were  moving  about,  sustaining  in 
some  cases  tea  and  coffee  cups,  in  others  ladies'  work,  in 
others  toys,  and  most  of  the  people  had  a  little  basket, 
with  keys  and  a  handkerchief,  floating  on  these  tables. 
Some  of  the  people  looked  single  and  rather  alone  in 
thought — certainly  not  in  company ;  others  were  in 
groups ;  one  handsome-looking  well  moustached  and 
well  capped  man,  with  two  young  ladies  equally  well 
capped  (all  the  rest  of  the  bodies  was  merged  in 
gowns),  seemed  to  form  in  one  corner  a  very  happy 
sentimental  group,  taking  refreshment  and  whispering 
together. 

There  were  about  sixty  men  and  twenty  women, 
principally  French  and  Italian.  Many  of  them  were 
practising  an  odd,  idle  sort  of  amusement,  for  sitting 
thus  up  to  the  neck  in  the  water,  they  had  found  out 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN    HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  137 

that  by  putting  three  fingers  of  one  hand  so  that  they  1341. 
should  be  compressed  by  the  other  hand,  whilst  both  ^T>'49/ 
palms  were  together,  they  could,  holding  the  hands 
just  or  partly  under  the  water,  and  alternately  com- 
pressing and  relaxing  them,  make  a  little  jetd'eau,  and 
the  rivalry  was  who  could  make  the  most  abundant 
jet,  throw  it  furthest,  and  direct  it  most  cleverly  either 
here  or  there.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  both  seemed 
very  happy  in  this  sort  of  occupation,  which  they 
pursue  for  from  two  to  nine  hours  per  day  for  weeks 
together.  What  good  it  may  do  their  bodies  I  do  not 
know,  but  it  certainly  must  relax  their  minds.  I  can 
scarcely  imagine  a  vigorous  or  strong-minded  person 
submitting  to  it  on  any  account. 

We  returned  to  the  inn,  dined,  and  then  rambled 
down  the  valley  to  find  the  ladders^  and  after  some 
queer  rambling  in  a  wood,  between  the  overhanging 
precipices,  which  form  the  wall  of  this  singular  valley, 
and  the  torrent  flowing  in  the  bottom,  found  them. 
In  fact,  we  found  two  boys  going  to  them,  and  they 
showed  off  the  ladders  famously.  On  the  top  of  the 

running  precipice  is  a  village  called ,  which  has 

established  a  communication  with  the  baths  for  pedes- 
trians down  the  side  of  the  precipice  by  these  ladders. 
We  went  through  the  wood  on  a  rough  path,  rising 
along  the  inclined  bank  of  stones,  earth,  and  trees,  and 
getting  more  and  more  above  the  river,  which  con- 
tinually descended,  until  at  last  the  path  could  go  no 
farther ;  and  after  clambering  six  or  eight  feet  over  rocky 
points,  the  next  step  was  on  to  a  rough  upright  ladder, 
pinned  to  the  rock  by  wooden  hooks  driven  into  the 
crevices.  At  the  top  of  the  first  ladder  was  a  cavern, 
dry  and  comfortable,  having  a  beautiful  view  of  the 


138  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.  valley  beneath.  From  the  floor  at  the  entrance  of  this 
*  JET!  49.  cavern  rose  another  ladder,  going  you  could  not  tell 
where  until  at  the  top  of  it,  and  when  there  more 
upright  scrambling  took  us  to  a  third  ladder.  We 
scrambled  up  there.  Could  see  five,  but  did  not  go 
farther,  for  we  had  to  return,  and  George  had  to 
sketch  this  strange  road  as  well  as  he  could.  Both 
men  and  women  of  the  village  use  this  path,  and  there 
is  no  other  except  by  going  many  miles  round.  It  is  a 
very  remarkable  thing,  and  quite  as  curious  in  its  way 
as  the  Gemmi  Pass  itself. 

Eeturning,  we  had  a  magnificent  piece  of  rosy  sun- 
light on  the  topmost  snow  Alp  :  everything  else 
being  grey  or  dark.  It  was  very  fine.  In  bed  by 
half-past  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  23rd, — All  night  long  were  we  kept  awake 
by  the  noises  in  the  inn.  Our  fears  that  we  should 
disturb  the  waiter  too  soon,  by  being  up  and  break- 
fasting by  five  o'clock,  were  very  unnecessary,  for  long 
before  that  not  merely  the  inn,  but  the  town  was  alive. 

The  bathers,  whatever  good  they  may  do  to  them- 
selves, will  be  the  death  of  others.  From  the  first 
hour  of  bed  there  were  noises  in  the  house,  and  to 
sleep  in  a  room  in  one  of  these  wooden  buildings,  and 
to  have  such  noises,  was  as  if  one  had  determined  to  go 
to  bed  in  a  drum,  whilst  half  a  dozen  boys  had  deter- 
mined to  have  a  game  on  the  outside.  Two  French- 
men were  in  the  next  room  to  us.  'Ah  !  que  je  suis 
malade ! '  says  one,  all  night,  coughing  continually,  so  as 
to  give  us  perfect  assurance  that  he  was  so.  Poor 
fellow  !  Up  he  was  twice  in  the  night  with  light  in  his 
room,  as  I  could  see  under  the  door.  Then  at  three 
o'clock  the  church  struck  up  a  vigorous  ringing.  I 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  139 

am  sure  I  do  not  know  what  for,  unless  it  was  for 
prayers  for  the  invalids  who  go  into  the  baths  soon 
'after.  Immediately  after  that  our  neighbours  the 
Frenchmen  began  to  get  up  and  talk.  One,  the  nialade, 
:  was  lively,  the  other  wished  to  snooze  a  little  longer, 
but  his  companion  bore  all  before  him,  and  after  much 
talking  I  was  glad  to  hear  his  door  open  and  he  go 
out.  What  for  I  could  not  tell,  but  there  were  now 
hopes  of  rest  for  an  hour.  Hopes,  indeed  !  and  nothing 
else.  For  in  less  than  ten  minutes  back  he  came,  talking 
I  in  his  loudest  key,  in  the  utmost  trouble  and  distress. 
!  The  baths  were  not  ready !  The  fires  not  lighted  ! 
The  place  not  warm !  The  water  not  yet  in  the  tanks  I 
and  it  half-past  three  o'clock !  I!  He  would  complain  to 
the  maire,  or  the  parson,  or  to  his  friend,  and  he  ill  all 
night.  Such  treatment  never  man  met  with  !  and  so  he 
grumbled  away,  thinking  much  of  himself,  and  very 
little  of  anybody  that  might  be  his  neighbours,  until 
about  four  o'clock,  when  he  went  out  and  did  not 
return.  I  trust  he  was  sopped  and  soaked  to  his  perfect 
satisfaction.  About  half-past  three  o'clock  there  was  a 
particular  snapping  noise  which  excited  my  attention  : 
.away  I  went  to  the  window  and  found  it  was  the 
crackling  of  three  great  wooden  fires,  made  in  different 
stoves  of  the  baths,  opening  to  the  air  and  intended  to 
warm  the  buildings.  When  at  the  window,  the  in- 
terest of  the  scene  kept  me  there.  As  I  said  before,  the 
principal  source  of  water  was  just  before  the  house, 
between  it  and  the  baths,  and  now,  in  the  early  morning 
light,  issued  out  from  the  various  surrounding  houses 
and  hotels  the  poor  creatures  cloaked  up  and  coiffed, 
or  dressed  otherwise  very  queerly,  each  bringing  a 
little  basket  containing  their  keys,  their  handkerchief, 


140  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.  and  a  tumbler,  with  other  things.  To  the  spring  they 
MT.  49.  ran  and  began  to  drink  the  hot  water :  some  were 
going,  others  coming,  whilst  waiters  were  washing 
various  articles  there  quite  unknown  to  me,  but  I  sup- 
pose of  bathing  importance,  and  such  a  mixture  of 
men,  women,  poor,  rich  (I  suppose),  at  such  diversity 
of  occupation  I  never  saw  in  one  spot  before.  As 
they  drank,  when  they  had  taken  enough,  off  they  ran 
to  the  baths  to  take  their  place  in  the  wonderful  fluid. 
And  so  their  days  ran  on  and  ran  away. 

By  ten  minutes  to  six  o'clock  we  had  breakfasted, 
packed  up,  and  come  outside  the  house,  ready  to  start 
and  part,  for  here  George  and  I  parted  ;  not  a  pleasant 
thing  to  either,  though  we  hoped  to  meet  again  in  a  few 
days ;  but  he  had  to  go  further  and  sketch,  and  I  had 
to  return  home,  i.e.  to  my  dear  wife  and  Emma,  by 
Sabbath  day.  My  purpose  was  to  make  two  days  from 
here  to  Thun,  sleeping  one  night  at  Fruchtigen  or 
Kandersteg,  as  it  might  be.  The  morning  was  fine,  and 
I  took  my  solitary  way  up  the  Gemmi  pass,  arriving  at 
the  top  by  half-past  seven  o'clock,  which  was  very 
well.  Fine  clouds  at  the  top  with  sunshine  and  snow 
falling.  Soon  arrived  at  the  lake  or  Daubensee,  meeting 
myriads  of  sheep  bleating  and  ringing  their  bells  very  j 
pleasantly  to  my  ears.  The  glaciers  on  the  left  between  . 
the  summit  and  the  Daubensee,  showed  the  moraines  on  i 
it  very  well.  It  then  became  cold  and  dull,  and  feeling 
rather  solitary  and  a  little  melancholy,  and  thinking  of  \ 
poor  George  left  to  himself,  I  had  half  a  mind  to  turn 
back  and  join  him.  What  nonsense  !  Passed  the  place 
where  yesterday  we  placed  some  flat  black  stones  on 
the  snow.  Though  there  has  been  a  good  deal  of 
sun  since,  they  had  not  sunk  in,  but  had  slid  on  the 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  141 

..inclined  surface  of  the  snow,  some  about  six  inches,  1841. 
others  more,  others  less.  At  thirty-five  minutes  past  &r.  49. 
eight,  reached  the  inn  at  Schwarenbach,  there  rested 

•  awhile  and  had  some  tea  and  a  mutton  chop.  I  left 
this  place  at  fifty  minutes  past  eight ;  it  was  cloudy,  and 
rain  immediately  began  and  continued  to  Kandersteg. 
It  was  no  use  stopping  to  wait  for  it,  for  who  could  tell 
when  it  would  cease,  and  who  could  help  me  if  I  met 
them?  I  had  an  umbrella,  so  on  I  went.  For  two 
hours  on  the  mountain-top  it  was  strong  rain,  with  the 

:  wind  against  me ;  and  as  the  path  was  soon  a  stream, 

:  my  great  fear  was  that  my  shoes  would  not  hold  out. 
On  the  road  I  passed  many  poor  pedlars  and  peasants 

.  carrying  goods,  for  such  is  the  principal  mode  of  con- 

:  veying  things  to  the  baths  of  Leuk.  At  eleven  o'clock 
I  passed  the  inn  at  Kandersteg,  where  we  had  slept  two 
nights  before,  but  as  I  was  thoroughly  wet,  and  other- 
wise quite  well,  on  I  went,  hoping  that  the  weather 

;  would  clear  and  become  dry  before  I  reached  Fruch- 
tigen.  The  weather  now  broke  a  little  in  these  lower 
parts,  and  I  saw  many  beautiful  specimens  of  cloud- 
making  and  rain-making  ;  the  falls,  too,  were  beautiful. 
I  arrived  at  Fruchtigen  at  one  o'clock,  having  made 

,  twenty-eight  miles  since  six  o'clock  this  morning.  But  I 
still  felt  my  clothes  damp,  and  knowing  the  difficulty  of 
getting  quick  accommodation,  I  resolved  to  dine,  and 
then  start  or  stay  as  I  might  feel  inclined ;  so  with  a 
little  eau  de  vie  de  Cognac,  and  a  very  good  dinner, 
and  also  the  advantage  of  a  rest  of  an  hour  and  a  half, 

;  I  started  again.  It  was  then  twenty  minutes  to  three, 
and  I  had  fine  weather  through  the  rest  of  the  beau- 

'  tiful  valley  of  the  Kander.  I  reached  home  at  Thun 
by  twenty  minutes  after  six,  in  far  better  condition 


142  LIFE   OF   FAKADAY. 

1841.  than  I  expected,  and  very  glad  to  be  there.  After  tea 
JET.  49.  I  felt  a  little  stiff,  and  only  then  felt  conscious  of  one 
small  blister. 

Now  from  Leuk  baths  to  Schwarenbach  is  9J  miles. 

From  Schwarenbach  to  Kandersteg  is  10  J  miles. 

Arid  from  Kandersteg  to  Fruchtigen  is  8  miles. 

And  from  Fruchtigen  to  Thun  is  16.1,  miles. 

Making  altogether  about  forty-five  miles.  This  I  did 
in  10£  hours,  excluding  the  two  hours  of  rest ;  so  that  I 
think  my  strength  cannot  be  bad  or  my  reasoning  (?) 
very  insufficient.  I  would  gladly  give  half  this  strength 
for  as  much  memoiy,  but — what  have  I  to  do  with 
that  ?  Be  thankful. 

(Here  flowers  from  the  top  of  the  Gemini  Pass  were 
fastened  into  the  journal  with  great  skill  and  taste.) 

Tuesday,  2!th. — More  pleasant  rambles  —  fine  — 
George  came  back  about  two  o'clock,  quite  hearty  and 
well.  Now  we  shall  think  of  a  move,  and  really  the 
changing  character  of  the  table  d'hote  and  other  things 
make  me  in  love  with  the  thoughts  of  home.  Dear 
England,  dear  home  !  dear  friends !  I  long  to  be  in 
and  amongst  them  all ;  and  where  can  I  expect  to  be 
more  happy,  or  better  off  in  anything  ?  Dear  home, 
dear  friends,  what  is  all  this  moving,  and  bustle,  and 
whirl,  and  change  worth  compared  to  you  ? 

Wednesday,  2Sth. — It  is  beautiful  to  see  mingled  to- 
gether the  elements,  materials,  and  results  of  the  forest : 
thousands — nay,  myriads— of  seedlings  of  all  kinds, 
with  grown  trees,  and  then  the  monsters  of  the  forest, 
and  at  last  their  fallen  decayed  trunks,  which  though 
dead  are  still  the  centre  of  life  to  many  other  vege- 
tables, and  to  countless  numbers  of  animals.  The  ants 
appear  to  make  great  use  of  dead  trees. 


HIS   REST   BETWEEN   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  143 

To  Mrs.  Faraday's  sister,  Miss  Barnard,  he  wrote  : —      1841. 

MT.  49. 
'  Interlaken :  August  1,  1841. 

'  Dear  Jenny, — A  whole  month  has  passed  away 
since  we  left  you  and  all  our  friends ;  and  though  we 
have  for  so  long  been  absent,  and  without  those  cheer- 
ing words  and  pleasant  little  chats,  which  are  and 
ought  to  be  a  comfort  to  one  another,  still  we  have  had 
your  letters,  and  you  can  hardly  think  how  great  their 
value  is  to  us.  I  speak  of  you  as  all  together,  for  I 
cannot  tell  how  to  separate  you  one  from  another; 
bound  up  together,  as  I  trust,  in  the  one  hope,  and  in 
faith  and  love  which  is  in  Jesus  Christ,  you  seem  to  me 
to  become  more  and  more  as  one  to  us  ;  for,  as  we  in- 
crease our  distance  from  you,  there  appears  to  be  a 
separation  of  the  few,  or  I  ought  rather  to  say  of  the 
many,  that  are  with  you  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  and 
a  distinction  which  I  feel  to  be  the  greater  now  that  I 
am  away.  And  you  too,  dear  Jenny,  are  away  in  a 
manner  ;  for  though  it  is  not  distance  which  separates 
you,  yet  it  has  pleased  God  in  his  dealings  to  bring 
weakness  of  body  over  you,  and  so  to  lessen  your  power 
to  enjoy  those  privileges  which  are  granted  to  us  to 
keep  alive  in  our  hearts  the  knowledge  and  love  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  But  we  know  that  these  his  dealings 
with  his  people  who  are  found  waiting  upon  Him  are 
all  mercy,  and  are  needful  to  rule  their  rebellious  hearts 
to  the  obedience  of  Him,  and  to  see  in  Him  everything 
which  is  necessary  for  our  rest.  How  anxious,  to  be  sure, 
we  are  to  do  something !  Often  it  takes  the  form  of 
going  to  his  house,  or  of  joining  in  his  worship,  or  of 
working  in  the  labour  of  love  in  the  profession — things 
that  his  people,  constrained  by  his  love,  will  be  always 


144  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.  found  observing  ;  but  when  it  pleases  God  to  take  from 
JET.  49.  us  these  privileges,  leaving  us  his  Word,  which  is  all- 
sufficient,  how  often  shall  we  find,  by  the  workings  and 
thoughts  of  our  hearts,  that  in  these  things  we  were  try- 
ing to  do  something  on  our  own  account !  And  so  we 
may  be  encouraged  to  hope  that  He  is  thus  showing  us 
what  is  within  ourselves,  that  He  may  turn  us  again  unto 
Christ  and  to  Him  alone.  Now,  my  dear  Jenny,  I  hope 
I  have  not  written  anything  to  make  you  dull.  I  have 
no  such  thought;  I  am  rather  hoping  to  cheer  both 
you  and  myself  by  the  thought  of  Divine  goodness 
and  mercy,  which  make  salvation  not  of  any  worth 
or  work  of  ours,  or  any  goodness  or  strength  or 
fitness  that  we  have,  but  alone  of  his  sovereign  grace 
and  mercy. 

'  Now  I  have  told  you  no  news — my  companion  and 
dear  wife  and  partner  in  all  things  will  tell  you  enough 
of  that.  We  often  talk  of  you  and  speak  of  our  joint 
hope ;  and  the  separation  that  now  is  makes  us  think  of 
another  that  will  follow,  and  that  cannot  be  much 
longer  delayed,  and  of  the  joyful  hope  of  meeting  never 
to  part  in  that  heaven  where  there  are  many  mansions, 
and  where  the  Saviour  is  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for 
his  people. 

1  Ever,  dear  Jane,  your  affectionate  brother, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  Swiss  Journal  continues  : — 

Monday,  Aug.  2nd. — Interlaken.  A  fine  pleasant- 
feeling  day,  and  some  very  pleasant  walks  to  the 
Pavilion  and  hills,  from  which  the  views  were  beau- 
tiful. The  Jungfrau  has  been  occasionally  remark- 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   REST.  145 

ably  fine :  in  the  morning  particularly,  covered  with  1841. 
tiers  of  clouds,  whilst  the  snow  between  them  was  JET.  49. 
beautifully  distinct ;  and  in  the  evening  showing  a  beau- 
tiful series  of  tints  from  the  base  to  the  summit,  accord- 
ing to  the  proportion  of  light  on  the  different  parts. 
At  one  time  the  summit  was  beautifully  bathed  in 
golden  light,  whilst  the  middle  part  was  quite  blue,  and 
the  snow  of  its  peculiar  blue-green  colour  in  the  refts. 
Some  of  the  glaciers  are  very  distinct  to  us,  and  with 
the  telescope  I  can  see  the  refts  and  corrugations  of  the 
different  parts,  and  the  edges  from  which  avalanches 
have  fallen ;  the  Neisen  is  also  very  often  most  beautiful 
in  our  views  over  the  lake  of  Thun. 

They  dry  fruits  here  in  the  sun,  as  cherries,  apples, 
pears,  &c.  :  for  this  purpose  they  spread  them  out  on 
boards  surrounded  by  little  raised  ledges.  These  boards 
are  blackened,  that  they  may  absorb  the  rays  of  the  sun 
and  become  hot. 

Clout-nail  making  goes  on  here  rather  considerably, 
and  is  a  very  neat  and  pretty  operation  to  observe. 
I  love  a  smith's  shop  and  anything  relating  to  smithery. 
My  father  was  a  smith. 

To-morrow  we  are  to  arrange  things  for  a  real 
Alpine  excursion. 

Tuesday,  3rd. — We  passed  many  waterfalls,  and 
arriving  at  Lauterbrunnen,  saw  at  once  the  Staubach,  or 
principal  waterfall  of  the  neighbourhood.  Our  wives 
soon  joined  us,  and  then  we  went  to  the  fall  and  looked 
about  us.  The  water  descends  from  an  immense  height, 
and  is  very  beautiful ;  but  there  is  not  much  of  it.  If 
it  fells  clear  of  the  rock,  which  depends  on  the  wind, 

VOL.  II.  L 


146  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1841.  then  it  becomes  rain  long  before  it  reaches  the  bottom, 
JET.  49.  and  varies  very  much  in  its  appearance  according  to 
the  light  and  position.  In  some  positions  the  middle 
part  disappears  altogether ;  in  others  it  looks  well  and 
full,  resembling  a  slowly  descending  gauze  veil,  narrow, 
and  long  and  perpendicular,  or  else  waving  with  the 
wind,  but  always  moving  downwards,  issuing  slowly 
from  above,  and  entering  the  ground  on  the  rock  on 
which  it  may  fall.  By  watching  a  fold  of  the  aqueous 
drapery  one  might  judge  of  the  time  of  descent,  and  it 
took  forty- three  beats  of  my  watch,  or  nearly  twenty 
seconds,  to  descend  from  the  top  to  the  bottom.  We 
had  three  ordinary  dirty-looking  girls,  who  sang  some 
Swiss  music  in  parts  very  prettily  and  with  good  effect. 
We  also  had  a  cannon  fired  off  (the  usual  toy)  that  we 
might  hear  the  echoes. 

Thursday,  5th. — Wengern  Alp.  A  little  further  on 
was  a  boy  with  a  mountain  horn,  by  means  of  which  he 
woke  up  the  mountain  echoes  in  an  extraordinary  man- 
ner. It  was  about  six  or  seven  feet  long  and  was  made 
of  wood  in  two  pieces,  which  had  been  hollowed  out 
separately  and  then  bound  together  by  strips  of  the 
willow  into  one  firm  instrument.  By  dexterous  blow- 
ing, the  lad  could  bring  out  the  harmonic  notes  of  two 
or  even  three  octaves,  and  so  made  his  rough  instru- 
ment discourse  excellent  music.  It  was  rich,  full,  and 
very  pleasant,  filling  these  immense  spaces  with  sound. 
A  wall  of  rock  a  good  way  off  returned  a  fine  echo, 
the  time  being  such  that  five  or  six  notes  were  given 
back  to  us  after  the  horn  was  silent ;  and  as  different 
parts  of  the  precipice  returned  the  sound  at  different 
times,  very  beautiful  combinations  of  the  notes  took 


LETTERS   DURING    HIS   REST.  147 

place — the  distant  faint  echo  of  the  echo   lingering     1841. 
beautifully  on  the  ear  at  last.     He  then  gave  us  a  bang    ^ET.  49. 
with  an  iron  cannon,  but  that  was  not  so  good.     It 
should  not  be  heard  after  the  horn. 

We  now  heard  an  avalanche,  and  hastened  our  steps. 
We  came  into  a  wood — most  picturesque.  Pines  were 
blown  down  and  crossed  our  path,  and  we  wondered 
how  mules  could  ever  pass  along  it.  We  came  on  to 
a  rising  ground  on  the  top  of  a  deep  precipitous  glen  or 
chasm,  and  saw  opposite  to  us  the  sources  of  the  Silber- 
horn,  the  Jungfrau,  and  other  wonderful  summits 
which  here  rose  before  us,  and  sent  down  continually 
great  streams  of  water  rushing  down  in  every  form  of 
fall,  and  every  now  and  then  thundering  avalanches. 
The  sound  of  these  avalanches  is  exceedingly  fine  and 
solemn.  It  is  the  sound  of  thunder  known  to  be 
caused  by  a  fall  of  terrestrial  matter,  and  conveys  the 
idea  of  irresistible  force.  To  the  sight  the  avalanche 
is  at  this  distance  not  terrible  but  beautiful.  Earely 
is  it  seen  at  the  commencement,  but  the  ear  tells  first 
of  something  strange  happening,  and  then  looking,  the 
eye  sees  a  falling  cloud  of  snow,  or  else  what  was  a 
moment  before  a  cataract  of  water  changed  into  a 
tumultuous  and  heavily  waving  rush  of  snow,  ice,  and 
fluid,  which,  as  it  descends  through  the  air,  looks  like 
water  thickened,  but  as  it  runs  over  the  inclined  surfaces 
of  the  heaps  below,  moves  heavily  like  paste,  stopping 
and  going  as  the  mass  behind  accumulates  or  is  dis- 
persed. 

Friday,  6th. — As  we  proceeded  into  the  higher 
grounds  at  a  height  of  2,000  feet  above  Lauterbrunnen, 


148  LIFE    OF    FAKADAY. 

1841.  the  sun's  rays  proceeded  in  such  a  direction  as  to  give 
MT.  49.  us  a  fine  rainbow,  or  at  least  part  of  one,  in  the  waters 
of  the  Staubach  and  other  falls.  So  that  when  we 
looked  down  from  this  great  height  upon  the  distant 
gauze-like  films,  they  took  all  sorts  of  beautiful  colours, 
varying,  as  we  stepped  backwards  and  forwards,  over  a 
space  of  fifteen  or  twenty  yards. 

We  soon  came  to  the  Hotel  de  Jungfrau,  and 
secured  rooms  for  the  night. 

The  avalanches  were  in  plenty,  and  some  very  fine. 
The  clouds  gathered,  and  at  last  a  distant  storm  with 
thunder  and  lightning  came  on,  and  a  flickering  gust 
of  wind.  Then  a  succession  of  exceedingly  fine  cloud 
effects  came  on,  the  blue  sky  appearing  in  places  most 
strangely  mixed  with  snow-peaks  and  the  clouds.  To 
my  mind  no  scenery  equals  in  grandeur  the  fine  sky- 
efiects  of  such  an  evening  as  this.  We  even  had  the 
rose-tint  on  the  snow  tops  in  the  highest  perfection  for 
a  short  time. 

Saturday ',  1th. — We  started  for  Grindelwald  at 
ten  o'clock.  The  snow-peaks  were  smoking  abundantly 
— tiiat  is,  the  wind  which  passed  over  them  formed  with 
the  air  which  crept  up  on  the  leeward  side  a  cloud 
which  continuously  passed  off  from  the  peak  some  dis- 
tance into  the  clear  air.  We  soon  passed  the  summit 
of  our  road  at  the  Scheideck,  and  descending,  came  first 
into  a  forest  of  rugged  blanched  pines,  dead  from  a 
very  hard  winter,  but  white  as  snow  and  shining  beauti- 
fully in  silvery  desolation. 

The  world  looks  very  bare  here  even  at  this  season. 
Slate  and  granite  occur.  The  streams  are  clear  as  ice 
of  the  glaciers,  clear  as  crystal.  Lower  down  we  came 
to  a  couple  of  women  sitting  on  the  roadside  arid 


REST   BETWEEN   THE    PERIODS    OF    HIS    RESEARCHES.  149 

making  lace.  They  sang  some  Swiss  songs  very  prettily ;  1841. 
but  this  has  now  happened  so  often  and  is  so  palpably  ^T.  49. 
for  money,  and  money  only,  that  the  sounds  are  losing 
all  their  charms.  The  motive  is  too  evidently  self- 
interest,  and  the  self-interest  is  too  evidently  a  great 
degradation  of  the  character  of  the  people.  One 
regrets  to  acknowledge  it,  but  begging  is  pursued  in  a 
shameless  manner.  The  mother  working  at  a  comfort- 
able cottage  door  will  send  her  child  to  beg  of  the 
passers-by  ;  the  infant  at  the  roadside  that  cannot  yet 
speak  even  its  own  language  holds  out  its  hand  for 
money.  Give,  give,  is  ever  on  the  countenance. 

Grindelwald  upper  glacier.  The  colour  of  this  ice  is 
most  beautiful,  giving  in  the  different  fissures  every  tint 
of  blue,  from  the  palest  through  Prussian  blue  to  black. 
The  man  took  me  into  a  low  flat  cavern.  Its  floor  was 
clear  ice,  beneath  which  was  another  similar  cavern.  Its 
roof  also  was  clear  blue  ice — its  extent  was  thirty  or  forty 
yards,  but  its  height  not  more  than  five  feet  in  the 
highest  place ;  and  whilst  standing  on  the  floor  we 
could  see  through  it,  the  waters  running  in  the  cavern 
below.  In  melting  from  the  contact  of  air,  the  under 
surface  generally  takes  a  groined  and  concave  form. 
Thus  many  parts  of  this  floor  formed,  as  it  were,  a  com- 
bination of  rude  plano-concave  lenses,  through  which 
the  rivers  of  water  below  presented  every  shape  and 
size  of  cascade,  rapid,  &c.  It  is  this  kind  of  cavern  that 
gives  origin  to  the  glacier  thunder,  for  as  the  thawing 
continually  proceeds — in  summer,  at  least — the  ice  at 
last  becomes  too  weak  to  support  such  flat  roofs,  and 
then  they  fall  in  tons  and  hundreds  of  tons  at  once. 

I  rambled  about  this  glacier  a  long  time,  going  up 
the  side  to  see  the  scratched  rocks  and  lateral  moraine. 


150  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.     The  flowers  here  were  beautiful  and  rich,  glowing  in 
JE-T.  49.    the  sunshine  of  the  fine  day. 

On  returning  we  had  tea,  and  after  tea  the  weather 
broke  up ;  the  evening  sun  shone  out  on  the  glorious 
snow  tops  and  fantastic  clouds  beneath  them  in  the 
most  admirable  manner.  Nothing  can  surpass  these 
sunsets. 

Tuesday,  12th. — Brienz  Lake.  George  and  I  crossed 
the  lake  in  a  boat  to  the  Giessbach — he  to  draw  and  I  to 
saunter.  The  day  was  fine,  but  the  wind  against  the 
boat ;  and  these  boats  are  so  cumbrous,  and  at  the  same 
time  expose  so  much  surface  to  the  air,  that  we  were 
above  two  hours  doing  the  two  miles,  with  two  men 
and  occasionally  our  own  assistance  at  the  oar.  We 
broke  the  oar-band  ;  we  were  blown  back  and  side- 
ways. We  were  drawn  against  the  vertical  rock  in  a 
place  where  the  lake  is  nearly  1,000  feet  deep  ;  and  I 
might  tell  a  true  tale  which  would  sound  very  serious, 
yet  after  all  there  was  nothing  of  any  consequence  but 
delay:  but  such  is  the  fallacy  of  description.  We 
reached  the  fall  and  found  it  in  its  grandeur  ;  for,  as 
much  rain  fell  last  night,  there  was  perhaps  half  as 
much  more  water  than  yesterday.  This  most  beautiful 
fall  consists  of  a  fine  river  which  passes  by  successive 
steps  down  a  very  deep  precipice  into  the  lake.  In 
some  of  these  steps  there  is  a  clear  leap  of  water  of 
100  feet  or  more,  in  others  most  beautiful  combinations 
of  leap  cataract  and  rapid,  the  finest  rocks  occurring 
at  the  sides  and  bed  of  the  torrent.  In  one  part  a 
bridge  passes  over  it.  In  another  a  cavern  and  a  path 
occur  under  it.  To-day  every  fall  was  foaming  from  the 


BEST   BETWEEN   THE   PERIODS   OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  151 

abundance  of  water,  and  the  current  of  wind  brought  1841. 
down  by  it  was  in  some  parts  almost  too  strong  to  "li^T 
stand  against.  The  sun  shone  brightly,  and  the  rain- 
bows seen  from  various  points  were  very  beautiful. 
One  at  the  bottom  of  a  fine  but  furious  fall  was  very 
pleasant :  there  it  remained  motionless  whilst  the  gusts 
and  clouds  of  spray  swept  furiously  across  its  place 
and  were  dashed  against  the  rock.  It  looked  like  a 
spirit  strong  in  faith  and  stedfast  in  the  midst  of  the 
storm  of  passions  sweeping  across  it,  and  though  it 
might  fade  and  revive,  still  it  held  on  to  the  rock  as  in 
hope  and  giving  hope,  and  the  very  drops  which  in  the 
whirlwind  of  their  fury  seemed  as  if  they  would  carry 
all  away  were  made  to  revive  it  and  give  it  greater 
beauty. 

How  often  are  the  things  we  fear  and  esteem  as 
troubles  made  to  become  blessings  to  those  who  are 
led  to  receive  them  with  humility  and  patience. 

In  one  part  of  the  fall  the  effect  of  the  current  of  air 
was  very  curious.  The  great  mass  of  water  fell  into 
a  foaming  basin  ;  but  some  diverted  portions  struck  the 
rock  opposite  the  observer,  and  collecting  left  it  at  the 
various  projecting  parts.  But  instead  of  descending, 
these  hundred  little  streams  rushed  upwards  into  the 
air,  as  if  urged  by  a  force  the  reverse  of  gravity ;  and  as 
there  was  little  other  spray  in  this  part  it  did  not  at 
first  occur  to  the  mind  that  this  must  be  the  effect  of 
a  powerful  current  of  air,  which  having  been  brought 
down  by  the  water  was  returning  up  that  face  of  the 
rock.  To  my  mind  this  fall  very  much  surpasses  the 
Staubach  in  beauty,  but  it  does  not  make  a  good  subject 
for  the  artist. 

Saturday,  l&h. — The  walking  of  this  day  was  about 


152  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.     thirty-two  miles,  including  the  pass  of  the  Brunig  twice. 
jExTIir  It  was  quite  enough,  and  now  and  then  we  were  both 
rather  warm.     Still  health  is  excellent. 

From  the  Lake  of  Brienz   Mrs.  Faraday  wrote  to 
Mr.  Magrath  : — 


MRS.    FARADAY   TO   MR.    MAGRATH. 

'Dear  Mr.  Magrath, — Mr.  Faraday  seems  very 
unwilling  to  write  letters  ;  he  says  it  is  quite  a  labour 
to  him,  and  that  everyone  advises  that  he  should  take 
thorough  rest ;  and  that  he  is  quite  inclined  to  do  so. 
I  can  certainly  say  nothing  against  all  this,  but  I  am 
anxious  that  such  an  old  friend  as  you  are  should  not 
be  neglected  altogether.  I  will  therefore  take  the 
opportunity  of  his  absence  (he  is  exploring  the  pass 
of  the  Brunig)  to  begin  a  letter  for  him,  and  to  tell 
you  how  we  are  going  on.  .  .  .  We  have  been 
absent  from  home  six  weeks  now,  which  we  consider 
about  half  our  time,  and  we  have  had  upon  the  whole 
favourable  weather  and  seen  a  great  deal  of  beautiful 
scenery.  We  expect  to  reach  Lucerne  in  about  a 
week.  Any  letter  sent  from  England  till  the  25th  of 
this  month  may  be  directed  there.  I  think  Mr.  Young 
will  be  quite  satisfied  with  the  way  my  husband  em- 
ploys his  time.  He  certainly  enjoys  the  country  ex- 
ceedingly, and  though  at  first  he  lamented  our  absence 
from  home  and  friends  very  much,  he  seems  now  to 
be  reconciled  to  it  as  a  means  of  improving  his  general 
health.  His  strength  is,  however,  very  good ;  he 
thinks  nothing  of  walking  thirty  miles  in  a  day  (and 
very  rough  walking  it  is,  you  know),  and  one  day  he 


BEST   BETWEEN   THE    PERIODS    OF    HIS    RESEARCHES.  153 

walked  forty-five,  which  I  protested  against  his  doing     1841. 
again,  though  he  was  very  little  the  worse  for  it.     I    ^ET.  49. 
think  that  is  too  much.     What  would  Mr.  Young  say 
to  that  ?     But  the  grand  thing  is  rest  and  relaxation 
of  mind,  which  he  is  really  taking.     There  are  not  so 
many  calls  upon  his  memory  here  even  to  remember 
people's  names. 

Faraday  finished  the  letter. 

1  Brientz  :  August  15,  1841. 

'  My  dear  Magrath, — Though  my  wife's  letter  will  tell 
you  pretty  well  all  about  us,  yet  a  few  lines  from  an 
old  friend  (though  somewhat  worn  out)  will  not  be 
unpleasant  to  one  who,  like  that  friend,  is  a  little  the 
worse  for  time  and  hard  wear.  However,  if  you  jog 
on  as  well  as  we  do  you  will  have  no  cause  for  grumb- 
ling, by  which  I  mean  to  say  that  I  certainly  have 
not ;  for  the  comforts  that  are  given  me,  and  above  all 
the  continued  kindness,  affection,  and  forbearance  of 
friends  towards  me,  are  I  think  such  as  few  experience. 
And  how  are  things  with  you  ?  I  must  ask  the  ques- 
tion, whether  I  can  hear  the  answer  or  not.  Remem- 
ber us  most  kindly  to  Mr.  Young.  We  often  have 
to  think  of  him  for  many  reasons.  I  will  give  no 
opinion  at  present  as  to  the  effect  of  his  advice  on 
my  health  and  memory,  but  I  can  have  only  one 
feeling  as  to  his  kindness,  and  whatever  I  may  for- 
get, I  think  I  shall  not  forget  that.  Amongst  other 
things,  say  that  the  net  for  the  cloaks  and  coats  is  most 
excellent,  and  has  been  several  times  admired  for  its 
utility.  It  is  droll  to  think  what  odd  gatherings  go 
into  it  sometimes  in  a  hurry.  If  you  happen  to  see 


154  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

Mr.  Brande  or  Sir  James  South,  remember  me  very 
kindly  to  them.  Now  as  to  the  main  point  of  this  trip, 
i.e.  the  mental  idleness,  you  can  scarcely  imagine  how 
well  I  take  to  it,  and  what  a  luxury  it  is.  The  only  fear  I 
have  is  that  when  I  return,  friends  will  begin  to  think 
that  I  shall  overshoot  the  mark  ;  for  feeling  that  any 
such  exertion  is  a  strain  upon  that  faculty  which  I 
cannot  hide  from  myself  is  getting  weaker,  namely, 
memory,  and  feeling  that  the  less  exertion  I  make  to 
use  that,  the  better  I  am  in  health  and  head,  so  my 
desire  is  to  remain  indolent,  mentally  speaking,  and  to 
retreat  from  a  position  which  should  only  be  held  by 
one  who  has  the  power  as  well  as  the  will  to  be  active. 
All  this,  however,  may  be  left  to  clear  itself  up  as  the 
time  proceeds ;  and  now  farewell,  dear  Magrath,  for  the 
present,  from  your  affectionate  friend, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Wednesday,  18th. — Fine  day  all  day.  We  started 
at  7  o'clock,  our  wives  on  horseback,  we  on  foot, 
and  began  to  mount  into  the  upper  Haslithal  over 
the  extraordinary  stone  rock  which  as  a  dyke  divides 
it  from  the  lower.  On  we  went,  very  wet  in  the  feet 
from  the  extraordinary  quantity  of  dew  which  filled 
every  herb  with  gems,  and  as  the  sun  shone  surrounded 
us  with  continual  rainbows  on  the  ground. 

Grirnsel  Hospice :  Here  I  found  Forbes,  and  also  found 
that  Agassiz  had  been  there  and  was  gone  up  to  his 
hut  on  the  Grimsel  glacier,  intending  to  sleep  there  to- 
night. Seven  or  eight  have  been  passing  day  and  night 
in  this  hut,  consisting  of  slabs  of  ice  and  stones,  on  the 
moraines  of  the  glacier,  for  a  fortnight  past.  I  arranged 
for  George  and  I  to  go  up  with  Forbes  to  the  glacier 


REST   BETWEEN   THE   PERIODS   OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  155 

to-morrow.    It  is  four  hours  there  and  four  back.     The      1841. 
-hut  has  descended  with  the  glacier  1,000  feet  since  last    JET.  49.' 
year  at  this  time. 

Tuesday r,  19th. — Not  well  this  morning,  and  cold  in- 
creased rather.  So  as  the  day  was  fine  we  altered  our 
minds  and  set  off  on  our  journey  for  the  Ehone  glacier. 

We  set  off  again  for  the  pass  of  the  Furca  and  for 
Hospenthal.  Our  ascent  to  the  Furca  led  up  by  the  side 
of  the  fine  glacier  from  which  the  river  Ehone  originates, 
and  amongst  a  full  spring  development  of  flowers  and 
buds.  Many  plants  were  here  just  springing  out  of  the 
ground,  and  at  the  top  we  had  to  descend  immediately  ; 
and  as  the  snow  had  not  yet  left  the  paths  open,  we 
had  to  slide  down  long  banks  of  snow,  filling  up  the 
bottom  of  the  Alpine  crevice  hereafter  to  form  a  valley. 
Under  these  banks  many  a  young  river  ran.  Our 
wives  dismounted  and  travelled  well.  Eapidly  it  could 
not  but  be,  but  it  was  well  also.  When  we  gained  the 
uncovered  path  it  was  very  bad  and  sterile,  but  we 
were  cheered  at  last  by  a  distant  sight  of  Hospenthal, 
the  place  on  the  great  St.  Bernard  pass  which  we  were 
going  to.  Evening  now  crept  on  ;  we  came  to  a  village  ; 
every  child  in  it  begged,  and  then  hooted ;  and  there  can 
be  no  better  illustration  of  the  harm  that  indiscriminate 
giving  occasions  than  in  this  country.  The  character 
of  the  whole  population  has  been  seriously  lowered  and 
injured  by  it.  Darkness  came  on :  our  path  was  a 
mere  rough  footway,  and  the  horses  being  fatigued 
began  to  stumble  more  than  before  over  the  stones. 
The  valley  now  spread  out,  but  as  a  consequence  many 
bogs  were  formed  through  which  we  had  to  feel  our 
way.  These  rivers  from  the  mountain  sides  had  strewn 


156 


LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

wide  areas  with  rocks  and  stones,  amongst  which  the 
waters  ran  ;  and  when,  crossing  these,  we  came  to  the 
present  narrow  course  of  the  stream,  George  and  I  had 
to  cross  by  a  plank,  whilst  our  wives  had  to  trust  their 
horses  in  fords  of  most  awkward  appearance,  and  some- 
times on  the  very  edge  of  falls  several  feet  in  height. 
Even  the  horses  at  times  hesitated  to  enter  among  the 
large  unseen  stones  and  the  roaring  waters.  Four 
different  torrents  of  this  kind  had  we  to  pass.  There 
was  no  moon  and  but  little  star-light,  but  fortunately 
the  granite  here  is  of  a  light  colour,  and  so  the  dif- 
ference between  the  bare  road  and  the  green  sides  was 
our  guide.  At  one  place  the  path  was  covered  with 
water  and  sand  for  some  distance,  and  amongst  these 
streams  and  rivers  we  had  to  find  our  way.  Our  guide 
and  the  horseman  here  certainly  behaved  well.  They 
picked  their  way  well  when  I  could  scarcely  see  the 
tail  of  the  horse  behind  which  I  walked,  and  when 
things  looked  very  dull  cheered  themselves,  us,  and  even 
the  horses,  by  singing  some  Alpine  songs.  At  last  we 
arrived  at  the  village  of  Hospenthal,  greatly  to  the  sur- 
prise of  the  landlord  of  the  inn,  for  it  was  half-past  nine. 
We  were  well  received ;  supped,  went  to  bed,  and 
dreamed. 

Monday,  23rd. — Arrived  at  Lucerne. 

Wednesday,  September  1st — Lucerne.  At  last  the 
month  is  come  in  which  I  hope  to  see  home  again. 
My  cold  is  heavy. 

Friday,  3rd. — At  last  had  the  doctor,  and  he  directed 
a  warm  bath  and  perspiration,  but  no  medicine.  The 
walk  out  to  the  bath  was  quite  delightful.  I  felt  as  if  I 
had  liberty  again,  and  could  enjoy  the  beauties  of 
nature.  It  was  like  an  escape  from  prison. 


REST   BETWEEN   THE    PERIODS   OF   HIS    RESEARCHES.  157 

Friday,  10th. — Zurich.    The  day  was  beautiful,  and     1841. 
we  visited  first  the  school   for   the   blind,  and   also    ^ET.  50. 
the  deaf  and  dumb.     The  deaf  and  dumb  were  truly 
I  astonishing.     To  hear  them  speak,  and  yet  to  know 
i:  that  they  cannot  hear  themselves.     To  perceive  that 
when  they  speak  to  us  jointly  with  each  other,  we  all 
know  the  words  but  by  different   senses,   since  they 
perceive  by  seeing  what  we  know  only  by  hearing,  is 
very  wonderful.     I   spoke  a  word  or  two  to  one  of 
them,  but  spoke  it  silently,  making  the  motions  of  the 
,  mouth,  but  using  no  voice.     My  companions  did  not 
know  what  I  said,  but  the  deaf  boy  knew ;  and  he  who 
had  been  born  dumb  repeated  the  words  which  those 
possessing  all  their  senses  had  no  knowledge  of.     This 
j  teaching  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  is  a  thing  kindly,  won- 
derfully, and  well  done.     In  the  course  of  the  day  we 
walked  to  the  Katz  bastion,  a  part  of  the  fortifications, 
i  now  converted  into  a  beautiful  garden,  affording  a  fine 
;  view  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood.     It  is  a  curious 
'  and  an  amusing  consideration  which  arises  on  comparing 
these  people  of  Zurich  with  the  Parisians.     These  are 
busy  in  razing  all  their  fortifications  ;  those  in  erecting 
such  works  round  their  city  of  Paris.    A  few  years  will 
suffice  to  show  which  has  the  most  wisdom.     Probably 
the  two  steps  are  equally  wise  for  the  respective  people 
by  whom  they  are  taken. 

Saturday,  1.1th. — Another  fine  day ;  I  delight  to 
notice  these  fine  days  as  a  set-off  to  the  many  dull 
reports  we  have  had.  Went  in  an  omnibus  to  Schaff- 
hausen :  about  thirty  miles  off.  We  stopped  at  the 
Ehine  falls  whilst  George  went  on  to  the  inn  and 
j  returned  to  us,  and  we  then  enjoyed  these  fine  falls, 
passing  to  both  sides  of  the  river  for  the  purpose.  A 


158  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1841.  new  gallery  has  been  built  close  to,  and  over,  the  fall. 
^ET.  so.  We  were  there  in  the  finest  lights  of  evening,  whilst 
the  sun  still  formed  rainbows  in  all  parts  of  the  mist, 
and  the  union  of  sublimity  and  beauty  in  the  desperately 
bounding  waters  is  extraordinary.  I  think  no  fall 
could  surpass  it  in  this  effect  from  the  spot  where  we 
stood ;  for  if  the  river  were  as  large  as  that  of  the 
Niagara  Falls,  still  one  is  here  so  thoroughly  in  the 
midst  of  the  rush,  that  the  eye  can  see  nothing  much 
beyond  twenty  feet  of  distance  ;  but  within  that  space 
all  that  water  can  present  of  power  and  beauty  is 
shown.  When  the  shades  of  evening  came  on  we  went 
to  Schaffhausen. 

Monday ',  18fA. — Went  again  with  George  to  the  falls 
of  the  Ehine,  and  picked  up  a  flower  in  remembrance. 
They  are  very  beautiful,  but  there  is  nothing  like  the 
beauty  on  them  under  the  midday  sun  there  was  in  the 
evening  lights  of  Saturday. 

Friday,  Sept.  \lth. — We  reached  Heilbron  about 
9  o'clock  P.M.,  and  slept  there.  Entering  it  by  dark 
night,  we  could  see  nothing  scarcely  ;  but  when  in  our 
room  we  saw  a  light,  rather  steady  in  degree,  moving 
about  up  in  the  sky  over  a  small  space.  Upon  inquiry 
we  found  it  was  a  watchman,  placed  in  the  highest 
gallery  of  the  cathedral  tower.  There  he  walked  all 
night,  watching  over  the  city,  and  showing  his  lanthorn 
to  give  proof  of  his  watchfulness.  He  had  a  trumpet 
on  which  at  the  half-hour  he  blew  a  single  note,  or 
sometimes  repeated  it.  But  if  he  saw  signs  of  fire  or 
other  evil  to  the  city,  then  he  blew  an  alarm.  It 
reminded  one  strongly  of  the  prophetic  figure  of  the 
watchman,  and  of  his  certain  or  uncertain  note. 

Monday )  20^. — Manheim.  Up  at  5  o'clock,  and  off  by 


REST   BETWEEN   THE   PERIODS   OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  159 

>  6  o'clock,  in  the  steamboat,  intending  to  proceed  down 
:  the  Ehine  to  Coblentz,  which  place  we  reached  by  4 
o'clock.  The  day  was  fine,  but  one  cannot  think  much  of 
the  Ehine  after  leaving  Switzerland.  Besides,  the  time  of 
day  did  not  give  good  shadows,  and  the  vineyards  were 
particularly  ugly.  Even  their  greenness,  which  is  the 
only  good  character  about  them,  is  passing  into  dull 
brown.  The  ruined  castles  were  as  beautiful  as  ever ; 
but  these  beauties  will  not  compete  with  those  of 
mountains,  valleys,  rocks,  and  varied  wood;  and  the 
Ehine  hills  have  no  grandeur. 

Thursday,  23rd.— The  Moselle.  No  steamboat,  no 
carriage,  no  practicable  road  except  for  horses ;  and 
surpassing  all  in  retarding  influence,  such  torpor  in  the 
people  as  I  never  saw  before  in  the  most  out  of  the  way 
place.  At  last  we  procured  an  open  paddle  boat,  and 
getting  in  with  our  luggage,  we  pushed  out  into  the 
river,  and  floated  down  with  the  stream,  a  man  and  a 
boy  helping  by  paddling.  At  first  it  was  fine,  then  a 
storm  came  on.  Then  the  man  put  the  boy  on  shore, 
and  sticking  up  an  oar  or  paddle  for  a  sail,  went  him- 
self to  the  stern  to  steer  and  paddle.  Then  I  took  the 
paddle  and  dabbled  awhile.  Next  we  picked  up  a 
man,  who  took  my  place,  and  at  last  we  arrived  at 
Coblentz  again,  with  a  fine  evening,  and  gave  up  the 
Moselle. 

Wednesday,  29^. — About  1  o'clock  this  morning  we 
were  woke  up  by  the  alarm  of  fire— always  an  awful 
alarm  at  sea.  Most  of  us  laid  quiet,  hoping  it  was 
nothing,  and  anxious,  I  suppose,  not  to  increase  the 
fear  and  tumult  consequent  on  the  thought.  Gradually 
all  was  set  right,  but  afterwards  I  was  told  there  was 
some  ground  for  the  fear  ;  perhaps  it  was  small.  Then 


160  LIFE   OF   FARAD-AY.. 

1842-43.  the  wind  rose  in  force,  and,  being  contrary,  kept  us 
^ET.50-52.  long  on  the  sea.  At  last  it  was  a  heavy  gale  that  blew, 
and  I  believe  nearly  all  were  ill  on  board.  I  did  not 
leave  my  berth  till  about  7  o'clock,  and  then  found  the 
deck  wet,  the  sea  working,  but  the  sky  bright.  The 
wind  was  very  powerful,  still  steam  sped  our  way. 

The  journal  ends  thus  : 

Crossing  the  new  London  Bridge  street  we  saw  M.'s 
pleasant  face,  and  shook  hands,  and  though  we  sepa- 
rated in  a  moment  or  two,  still  we  feel  and  know  we 
are  where  we  ought  to  be — at  home. 

In  1842  and  1843  but  little  original  research  was 
done.  Many  lectures,  however,  were  given  for  the 
good  of  the  Royal  Institution,  and  there  was  some 
work  for  the  Trinity  House.  His  reputation  showed 
itself  by  the  Prussian  order  of  merit,  and  by  other 
titles  which  he  received,  and  by  a  very  remarkable 
letter  from  Prince  Louis  Napoleon,  at  that  time  a 
prisoner  at  Ham.  His  letters  are  not  of  much  inte- 
rest. 

I. 

In  1842,  on  June  1,  tempted  probably  by  the 
remarkable  discovery  which  Sir  W.  Armstrong  had 
published  two  years  previously,  he  made  the  first 
note  of  fresh  experimental  researches  in  electricity, 
after  twenty  months  of  rest.  It  was  on  the  electricity 
of  steam,  '  to  see  whether  it  might  not  be  from  friction 
against  metal ;  as  the  metal  cock  or  pipe.'  He  con- 
tinued these  experiments  throughout  June,  November, 
December ;  and  January  26,  he  sent  the  eighteenth 


REST   BETWEEN   THE   PERIODS   OF    HIS   RESEARCHES.  161 

Series  of '  Researches  on  the  Electricity  evolved  by  the  1842-43: 
Friction  of  Water  and  Steam  against  other  Bodies '  to  ^1.50-52, 
the  Eoyal  Society.     Faraday  showed  that  <  the  cause 
of  the  evolution  of    electricity  by  the    liberation  of 
confined  steam  is  not  evaporation  ;  and  further  being, 
I  believe,  friction,  it  has  no  effect  in  producing,  and  is 
not  connected  with,  the  general  electricity  of  the  atmo- 
sphere.'    The  origin  of  the  electricity  was  uncertain 
until  these  researches  were  made. 
.    In  September  he  made  some  experiments  on  the 
change  of  water  and  ice  into  each  other. 

To  this  subject  he  returned  in  1850,  when  he  gave 
a  lecture  on  it  at  the  Institution. 

In  1843,  when  the  paper  on  the  electricity  evolved 
by  steam  was  ended,  there  was  no  more  work  in  the 
laboratory.  Indeed,  scarcely  any  note  was  made 
until  the  end  of  May  1844,  that  is,  he  took  nearly 
eighteen  months  more  of  rest  from  experimental  re- 
search. During  this  time  he  lectured  for  the  Institu- 
tion, and  he  did  his  work  for  the  Trinity  House.  But 
excepting  his  paper  on  the  electricity  evolved  by 
steam,  no  laboratory  work  was  done  for  upwards  of 
three  years. 

For  the  Institution,  in  1842,  he  gave  two  Friday 
evening  lectures,  one  on  the  lateral  discharge  in  light- 
ning rods,  and  another  on  the  principles  and  practice 
of  Hullmandel's  lithographic  printing.  In  1843,  after 
Easter,  he  gave  eight  lectures  on  electricity,  from  the 
same  notes  as  he  used  in  1838,  and  with  the  same 
experiments.  He  gave  three  Friday  discourses  on 
some  phenomena  of  static  electric  induction ;  on 
lighthouse  ventilation  ;  at  this  lecture  he  read  a  letter 

VOL.  II.  M 


162  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1842-43.  from  the  keeper  of  St.  Catherine's  light,  dated 
ix.50-62.  February  19,  1843  : — 

4  The  weather  to-day  forms  a  comparison  of  Feb- 
ruary 1841 ;  but,  pleasing  to  say,  no  damp.  Sir,  your 
plan  has  driven  the  enemy  out.  I  entertain  now  not 
the  slightest  fears  of  him  ever  coming  again  to  cause 
such  labour  as  you  witnessed  on  February  4,  1841.' 

The  third  Friday  discourse  was  on  the  electricity  of 
a  steam  current. 

In  1842  he  gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on  electricity. 

In  March,  May,  August  and  September,  he  made 
different  reports  to  the  Trinity  House. 

In  August  he  was  at  Newcastle,  examining  Cookson's 
operations  for  grinding  the  glass  for  lenses. 

In  1843,  for  the  Trinity  House,  he  went  to  the 
South  Foreland  lighthouses  regarding  their  ventilation. 
He  inspected  the  dioptric  light  of  the  first  order,  which 
had  just  been  constructed  in  France  and  put  up  there 
by  French  workmen,  and  compared  its  consumption  of 
oil  with  the  fifteen  Argand  burners  which  were  pre- 
viously in  use. 

He  sent  to  the  '•  Philosophical  Magazine  '  a  paper  on 
static  electrical  inductive  action.  Among  his  notes 
the  following  occurs  : — '  Propose  to  send  to  the  "  Phil. 
Mag."  for  consideration  the  subject  of  a  bar,  or  circular, 
or  spherical  magnet — first,  in  the  strong  magnetic 
field ;  then  charged  by  it ;  and,  finally,  taken  away 
and  placed  in  space.  Inquire  the  disposition  of  the 
dual  force,  the  open  or  the  related  powers  of  the  poles 
exernally,  and  if  they  can  exist  unrelated.  The 
difference  between  the  state  of  the  power,  when  related 
and  when  not,  consistent  with  the  conservation  of 
force.  Avoid  any  particular  language.  Should  not 


LETTERS  DURING    HIS   REST.  163 

pledge  myself  to  answer  any  particular  observations,  1842-43. 
or  to  any  one,  against  open  consideration  of  the  sub-  2ET.50-52. 
ject.     Want   to  direct  the  thoughts  of  all  upon  the 
subject,  and  to  tie   them    there ;    and    especially   to 
gather  for  myself  thought  on  the  point  of  relation  or 
non-relation  of  the  antithetical  force  or  polarities.' 

He  also  sent  a  paper  to  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine ' 
on  static  electrical  inductive  action,  and  on  the 
chemical  and  contact  theories  of  the  voltaic  battery. 

The  ventilation  of  lighthouses  led  him  to  apply 
the  same  principle  to  the  ventilation  of  oil  and  gas 
lamps.  He  gave  the  invention  to  his  brother.  Thus, 
after  describing  the  invention,  he  says  : 

'December  10,  1842. 

'And  now,  dear  brother,  believing  this  particular 
arrangement  of  the  ventilating  flue  to  be  my  own 
invention,  and  having  no  intention  of  turning  it  to  any 
pecuniary  use  for  myself,  I  am  most  happy  to  give 
freely  all  my  rights  in  it  over  to  you,  or  any  body 
you  may  name  for  your  good ;  and  as  Mr.  Carpmael 
says  we  may  legally  and  equitably  make  this  transfer 
of  rights  in  this  way,  I  write  to  you  this  letter  de- 
scribing the  principle  and  arrangement  of  the  inven- 
tion, as  far  as  I  have  carried  it.  Hoping  it  may  be 
productive  of  some  good  to  you,  and  of  no  harm  or 
trouble, 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Kobert,  your  affectionate  brother, 

1 M.  FARADAY.' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Civil  Engineers,  June  13,  1843, 
he  had  a  paper  on  the  ventilation  of  lamp  burners. 

M   2 


164  LIFE    OF   FARADAT. 


II. 

In  1842  he  was  made  Chevalier  of  the  Prussian 
Order  of  Merit  (one  of  thirty),  and  Foreign  Associate 
of  the  Eoyal  Academy  of  Sciences,  Berlin. 

In  1843  he  was  made  Honorary  Member  of  the 
Literary  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Manchester,  and 
Useful  Knowledge  Society,  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

He  received  a  medal  from  the  Eoyal  Society  of 
Copenhagen,  for  which  he  thanks  Professor  Oersted 
in  the  following  letter  : — 


PROF.    OERSTED   TO   FARADAY. 


'  My  dear  Sir, — It  is  with  very  great  pleasure  that  I 
avail  myself  of  an  opportunity  of  expressing  my  re- 
spect  for  and  strong  remembrance  of  you,  both  for 
your  work's  sake,  and  for  the  personal  experience  I 
have  had  of  your  kindness. 

'  May  you  long  live  to  advance  as  you  have  done, 
and  to  make  your  friends  happy.  I  send  you  papers 
now  and  then  as  slight  tokens  of  my  respect,  and  hope 
you  will  accept  them  in  good  part. 

'  I  have  lately  received  from  the  Eoyal  Society  of 
Copenhagen  the  medal  struck  in  1842,  and  esteem  it 
as  a  great  favour  and  honour.  Will  you  do  me  the 
kindness  to  return  my  very  grateful  thanks  for  such 
remembrance  of  me  on  the  part  of  the  society,  to 
which  I  owe  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  for  its  approba- 
tion of  my  exertions  eleven  years  ago,  and  which  was 
to  me  of  great  value  and  encouragement. 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS  REST.  165 

'"I  am,  my  dear  friend,  your  obliged   and  grateful  1842-43. 
servant,  ^Ex.6o-52. 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 

PRINCE   LOUIS  NAPOLEON    (2Er.  35)    TO   FARADAY. 

'Fort  of  Ham:  May  23,  1843. 

1  Dear  Sir, — You  are  not  aware,  I  am  sure,  that  since 
I  have  been  here  no  person  has  afforded  me  more  con- 
solation than  yourself.  It  is  indeed  in  studying  the 
great  discoveries  which  science  is  indebted  to  you  for, 
that  I  render  my  captivity  less  sad,  and  make  time  flow 
with  rapidity. 

'  I  submit  to  your  judgment  and  indulgence  a  theory 
of  my  own  on  voltaic  electricity,  which  was  the  subject 
of  a  letter  from  me  to  M.  Arago  on  April  23  last,  and 
which  I  here  subjoin.  M.  Arago  was  kind  enough 
to  read  it  to  the  Academy,  but  I  do  not  yet  know  the 
general  opinion  on  it.  Will  you  have  the  kindness  to 
tell  me  sincerely  if  my  theory  is  good  or  not,  as  nobody 
is  a  better  judge  than  yourself? 

'  Permit  me  also  to  ask  you  another  question  that 
interests  me  much,  on  account  of  a  work  I  intend  soon 
to  publish  :  What  is  the  most  simple  combination  to 
give  to  a  voltaic  battery,  in  order  to  produce  a  spark 
capable  of  setting  fire  to  powder  under  water  or  under 
ground  ?  Up  to  the  present  I  have  only  seen  employed 
to  that  purpose  piles  of  thirty  to  forty  pairs  constructed 
on  Dr.  Wollaston's  principles.  They  are  very  large 
and  inconvenient  for  field  service.  Could  not  the 
same  effect  be  produced  by  two  spiral  pairs  only,  and 
if  so  what  can  be  their  smallest  dimension  ? 

'  It  is  with  infinite  pleasure  that  I  profit  of  this  oppor- 


166  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1843.     timity  to  recall  myself  to  your  remembrance,  and  to 
jEt.  51-52.  assure  you  that  no  one  entertains  a  higher  opinion  of 
your  scientific  genius  than,  yours  truly, 

*  NAPOLEON  Louis  BONAPARTE. 

'  I  beg  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  Sir  James  South 
and  to  Mr.  Babbage.' 

The  letter  to  M.  Arago  exists  among  the  papers  of 
Faraday.     His  answer  to  it  has  not  been  yet  found. 

PRINCE   NAPOLEON  TO   M.    ARAGO. 

*  Monsieur, — Toutes  les  fois  qu'on  trouve,  ou  qu'on 
croit  avoir  trouve,  quelque  chose  de  nouveau  qui  inte- 
resse  la  science,  c'est  a  vous  qu'on  s'adresse  ;  car  vous 
£tes  1'axe  autour  duquel  se  meut  le  monde  scientifique, 
et  on  est  persuade  si  Ton  a  raison  de  meriter  votre 
approbation,  comme  si  Ton  s'est  trompe  de  pouvoir 
compter   sur   votre  indulgence.     L'idee   que  je   vous 
soumets  aujourd'hui  est  relative  k  une  nouvelle  theorie 
de  la  pile  volta'ique. 

*  La  source  de  1'electricite  a  ete  attribute  par  Volta 
au  contact  de  deux  metaux  dissemblables.     Davy  a 
partage  cette  opinion,  mais  depuis,  de  celebres  savants, 
et  entre  autres  1'illustre  Faraday,  ont  attribue  a  la  de- 
composition chimique  du  metal  la  seule  cause  de  1'elec- 
tricite.    Adoptant  cette  derniere  hypothese,  je  me  suis 
dit :    Comme  dans  la  pile  il  n'y  a  jamais  qu'un  seul 
metal  qui  soit  oxide,  si  1'electricite  n'est  due  qu'k  Fac- 
tion chimique,  le  second  metal  ne  doit  jouer  dans  cet 
accouplement  qu'un  role  secondaire.     Quel  est  ce  role  ? 
C'est,  je   crois,   d'attirer   ou   de  conduire   1'electricite 
developpee  par  1'action  chimique  d'une  maniere  ana- 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   REST.  167 

logue  a  ce  que  se  passe  dans  la  machine  electrique     1843. 
ordinaire.     En  eflet,  dans  celle-ci  1'electricite  degagee  jEr.si-si 
par  le  frottement  traverse  un  milieu  conducteur  impar- 
fait,  qui  est  1'air,  et  est  attiree  et  conduite  par  un  parfait 
conducteur,  qui  est  le  metal.     Dans  la  pile  I'electricite' 
produite  par  1'oxidation  d'un  metal  quelconque  traverse 
un  milieu  conducteur  imparfait,  qui  est  le  liquide,  et 
est  recueillie  et  transmise  par  un  parfait  conducteur, 
qui  est  le  metal  adjacent. 

'  Cette  idee  m'ayant  parue  claire  et  simple,  je  cher- 
chai  le  moyen  d'en  prouver  1'exactitude  par  1'experience, 
et  je  fis  cet  autre  raisonnement :  S'il  est  vrai  que  des 
deux  metaux  employes  dans  la  pile  1'un  ne  serve  que 
de  conducteur,  on  pourra  le  remplacer  par  le  meme 
metal  que  celui  qui  s'oxide,  pourvu  qu'il  soit  plonge  dans 
un  liquide  qui  permette  h  I'electricite  de  passer  sans 
attaquer  le  metal. 

4  L'experience  vint  confirrner  mes  previsions.  Je 
construisis  deux  couples  suivant  le  principe  de  Daniell, 
mais  avec  un  seul  metal.  Je  plongeai  un  cylindre  de 
cuivre  dans  un  liquide  compose  d'eau  et  d'acide  nitrique, 
et  le  tout  contenu  dans  un  tube  de  terre  poreuse,  et 
j'entourai  ce  tube  d'un  autre  cylindre  en  cuivre,  plon- 
geant  dans  de  1'eau  acidulee  avec  de  1'acide  sulfurique, 
melange  qui  n'attaque  pas  le  cuivre.  Ayant  etabli  les 
communications  com  me  on  le  pratique  ordinairement, 
je  decomposai  facilement  avec  cette  pile  de  deux  couples 
de  1'iodure  de  potassium  dissout,  et  ayant  adapte  aux 
extremites  des  deux  poles  deux  plaques  de  cuivre,  plon- 
geant  dans  une  dissolution  de  sulfate  du  meme  metal, 
je  recueillis  au  pole  qui  etait  en  rapport  avec  le  cuivre 
attaque  un  depot  de  cuivre. 

'  Je  fis  une  seconde  experience  avec  du  zinc  seul. 


168  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1843.  Je  mis  dans  1'auge  poreux  du  zinc  et  de  1'eau  acidulee 
.^51^52.  avec  de  1'acide  sulfurique,  et  j'entourai  ce  tube  d'un 
autre  cylindre  en  zinc,  plongeant  dans  de  1'eau  pure 
tiede.  Avec  deux  couples  semblables  ainsi  formes  je 
decomposai  egalement  de  1'iodide  de  potassium,  et 
j'obtins,  en  prenant  des  precautions  necessaires,  un 
.depot  de  cuivre  au  pole  qui  etait  en  rapport  avec  le 
zinc  attaque. 

4  Enfin  je  renversai  1'ordre  habituel  des  metaux,  et 
mis  du  cuivre  dans  le  centre  du  tube,  plongeant  dans 
de  1'eau  et  de  1'acide  nitrique,  et  j'entourai  ce  tube 
d'un  cylindre  en  zinc,  plongeant  dans  de  1'eau  pure,  et 
j'obtins  encore  ainsi  une  pile  assez  forte. 

'  J'aurais  voulu  pouvoir  mesurer  avec  soin  la  diffe- 
rente  force  des  courants  electriques,  mais  il  m'a  ete 
impossible  de  le  faire,  faute  d'un  galvanometre.  Mes 
efforts  pour  en  construire  un  n'ont  pas  reussi,  parce 
que  les  aiguilles  aimantees  furent  toujours  devices  par 
1'attraction  des  barreaux  de  fer  qui  entourent  mes 
fenetres. 

'  Cependant,  d'apres  les  experiences  que  j'ai  pu  faire, 
il  me  semble  dernontre  que  dans  la  pile  la  cause  de 
1'electricite  est  purement  chimique,  puisqu'il  suffit  d'uri 
seul  metal  pour  produire  un  courant,  que  le  metal  qui 
n'est  pas  oxide  ne  fait  que  transmettre  1'electricite 
comme  dans  1'electricite  ordinaire.  Enfin,  que  chaque 
metal  est  positif  ou  negatif,  anode  ou  cathode  a  lui- 
rneme  ou  a  d'autres,  suivant  le  liquide  dans  lequel  on 
le  plonge. 

4  Je  vous  transmets  ces  details  avec  une  grande 
reserve,  car  je  n'ai  point  fait  de  la  chimie  ni  de  la. 
physique  mon  etude  speciale,  et  c'est  seulement  1'hiver 
dernier  que,  pour  abreger  les  heures  de  ma  captivite, 


LETTERS    DURING    HIS   REST.  169 

je  me  suis  livre  a  quelques  experiences  en  etudiant,     1843. 
avec  le  plus  vif  interet,  les  travaux  des  hommes  illustres  ^ET.5i-5*. 
qui  font  faire  tant  de  progres  a  la  science.' 

Among  the  correspondence  of  Faraday,  two  other 
notes  from  Prince  Louis  Napoleon  exist ;  they  are  both 
undated,  and  the  answers  of  Faraday  are  not  to  be 
found. 

PRINCE   L.    NAPOLEON   TO   FARADAY. 

'  The  Prince  Napoleon  presents  his  compliments  to 
Mr.  Faraday,  and  begs  him  to  have  the  kindness  to 
answer  to  a  metallurgique  question  which  is  for  the 
Prince  of  rather  great  importance. 

'  The  Prince  should  be  very  anxious  to  find  one  alloy 
which  would  be  less  fusible  than  lead,  and  at  the  same 
time  nearly  as  soft. 

'The  Prince  thinks  that  lead  and  zinc  (mixed  to- 
gether) would  perhaps  answer  the  purpose,  but  having 
no  means  to  make  experiments,  the  Prince  would  be 
extremely  obliged  to  Mr.  Faraday  if  he  could  appoint 
any  person  to  make  these  trials.  The  Prince  would  with 
pleasure  pay  all  expenses. 

'  The  Prince  is  very  sorry  to  give  so  much  trouble 
to  Mr.  Faraday,  but  he  relies  upon  his  kindness.' 

PRINCE    L.    NAPOLEON   TO    FARADAY. 

4  Le  prince  Napoleon  fait  ses  compliments  a  M.  Fara- 
day, et  le  remercie  des  renseignements  qu'il  lui  a 
transmis  il  y  a  quelques  semaines.  II  espere  que  ce 
n'est  pas  abuser  de  sa  complaisance  que  de  lui  adresser 
aujourd'hui  la  question  suivante :  Quelle  est  la  plus- 


170  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1842-43.  grande  dimension  que  Ton  peut  donner  a  la  mousse  de 
^ET.50-52.  platine  (cette  preparation  chimique  du  metal  qui  a  la 
propriete  d'inflammer  I'hydrogene)  ?  Le  prince  sera 
tres-oblige  a  M.  Faraday  s'il  veut  bien  lui  repondre 
un  de  ces  jours  quand  il  n'aura  rien  de  mieux  a  faire, 
car  il  serait  desole  de  le  detouruer,  meme  pour  un 
moment,  de  ses  occupations,  qui  sont  si  importantes 
pour  la  science. 

'1  Carlton  Gardens,  Friday.' 

, 

During  these  two  years  a  few  letters  show  Faraday's 
character ;  amongst  them  is  one  to  Matteucci  show- 
ing his  great  depression ;  and  another  to  Dr.  S.  M. 
Brown,  who  had  asserted  the  isomerism  of  carbon  and 
silicon,  and  had  had  his  experiments  almost  universally 
rejected.  He  wished  Faraday  to  witness  an  attempt  to 
transmute  carbon  into  silicion,  '  on  the  simple  condition 
of  giving  me  a  written  testimonial  to  be  used  as 
the  Edinburgh  Eoyal  Society  think  fit.'  Mr.  Brown 
also  complained  that  he  had  called  and  had  not  been 
admitted. 

FARADAY   TO   DR.  T.  M.  BROWK. 

'  Koyal  Institution  :  December  26,  1842. 

4  Dear  Sir, — That  which  made  me  inaccessible  to 
you  makes  me  so,  in  a  very  great  degree,  to  all  my 
friends,  ill  health  connected  with  my  head;  and  I  have 
been  obliged  (and  am  still)  to  lay  by  nearly  all  my 
own  pursuits,  and  to  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of 
society  either  in  seeing  myself  in  my  friends'  houses,  or 
them  here.  This  alone  would  prevent  me  from  acced- 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   REST.  171 

ing  to  your  request.  I  should,  if  I  assented,  do  it  1842-43. 
against  the  strict  advice  of  my  friends,  medical  and  JET.5o-52. 
social. 

1  The  matter  of  your  request  makes  me  add  a  remark 
or  two  which  I  hope  you  will  excuse.  Anyone  who  does 
what  you  ask  of  me,  i.e.  certify  if  the  experiment  is 
successful,  is  bound  without  escape  to  certify  and 
publish  also  if  it  fail,  and  I  think  you  may  consider 
that  very  few  persons  would  be  willing  to  do  this.  I 
certainly  would  not  put  myself  in  such  a  most  unplea- 
sant condition. 

'  Again,  why  not  test  the  experiment  in  Scotland,  for 
there  you  have  published  it  ?  If  Professor  Christison 
has  given  you  letters,  let  him  be  your  companion  in  an 
experiment,  and,  if  he  likes,  tell  the  world  his  judgment 
on  the  matter.  His  character  is  such  that  if  you  satisfy 
him,  and  he  conjoins  his  testimony  with  yours,  I  should 
think  you  would  not  have  much  to  fear  as  to  the  truth 
of  the  discovery. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  very  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

To  his  friend  Mr.  Grove,  who  was  at  that  time  doing 
his  utmost  to  improve  the  Eoyal  Society,  Faraday  thus 
wrote,  declining  to  take  any  active  part  in  the  work. 

FARADAY   TO   W.   R.    GROVE,   ESQ. 

'Royal  Institution  :  December  21, 1842. 

'  My  dear  Grove, — 

As  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  you  know  my  feeling  towards 
it  is  for  what  it  has  been  and  I  hope  may  be.  Its 
present  state  is  not  wholesome.  You  are  aware  that  1 


172  .'        LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

.  1843.  am  not  on  the  council,  and  have  not  been  for  years, 
^T.5i-52.  and  have  been  to  no  meeting  there  for  years ;  but 
I  do  hope  for  better  times.  I  do  not  wonder  at  your 
feeling — all  I  meant  to  express  was  a  wish  that  its  cir- 
cumstances and  character  should  improve,  and  that  it 
should  again  become  a  desirable  reunion  of  all  really 
scientific  men.  It  has  done  much,  is  now  doing  much, 
in  some  parts  of  science,  as  its  magnetic  observations 
show,  and  I  hope  will  some  day  become  altogether 
healthy. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Grove,  yours  sincerely, 
'M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO    C.    MATTEUCCI. 

'  Royal  Institution :  February  18,  1843. 

'  My  dear  Matteucci, — I  received  your  letter  yester- 
day, and  am  much  affected  by  your  very  kind  inquiries 
after  one  who  feels  as  if  his  purpose  of  life  in  this 
world  were,  as  regards  the  world,  passed,  for  every 
letter  of  yours  finds  me  withdrawn  more  and  more 
from  its  connections.  My  health  and  spirits  are  good 
but  my  memory  is  gone,  and  it,  like  deafness,  makes  a 
man  retreat  into  himself. 

'  I  think  you  are  aware  that  I  have  not  attended  at 
the  Koyal  Society,  either  meetings  or  council,  for  some 
years.  HI  health  is  one  reason,  and  another  that  I  do 
not  like  the  present  constitution  of  it,  and  want  to 
restrict  it  to  scientific  men.  As  these  my  opinions  are 
not  acceptable,  I  have  withdrawn  from  any  manage- 
ment in  it  (still  sending  scientific  communications  if  I 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   REST.  IT 

discover   anything  I  think  worthy).     This   of  course     1844. 
'  deprives  me  of  power  there.  M-r.w-b 

'  With  earnest  congratulations  to  you  on  your  last 
papers, 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Matteucci,  your  faithful  friend, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


The  year  1844  is  not  remarkable  for  original  research. 
It  is  noticeable  chiefly  for  a  speculation  on  the  nature 
of  matter,  and  it  was  followed  by  an  opposite  specula- 
tion on  the  physical  lines  of  force.  These  two  theories 
are  of  great  interest,  as  they  mark  the  imaginative  part 
of  the  mind  of  Faraday,  and  show  the  way  in  which  he 
let  it  act  when  he  thought  it  was  '  time  to  speculate.' 

OQ  May  23  he  began  to  experiment  upon  one  of 
his  earliest  subjects,  the  condensation  of  the  gases.  He 
added  to  pressure  great  cold,  and  he  hoped  to  get  fluid 
or  solid  hydrogen,  nitrogen,  and  oxygen.  He  began 
with  cyanogen :  he  worked  in  June,  July,  August,  Sep- 
tember, November,  and  December,  and  December  19 
he  sent  a  paper  to  the  Hoyal  Society.  He  failed  in 
his  object  of  solidifying  oxygen  or  hydrogen,  but  he 
reduced  six  substances  usually  gaseous  to  the  liquid 
state ;  and  seven,  including  ammonia,  nitrous  oxide,  and 
sulphuretted  hydrogen,  he  made  solid, 

He  sent  to  the  'Philosophical  Magazine'  a  specula- 
tion touching  electric  conduction  and  the  nature  of 
matter.  Elsewhere  he  calls  this  '  a  speculation  respect- 
ing that  view  of  the  nature  of  matter  which  considers 
its  ultimate  atoms  as  centres  of  force,  and  not  as  so 


174  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1844.  many  little  bodies  surrounded  by  forces,  the  bodies 
jEr.52-53.  being  considered  in  the  abstract  as  independent  of  the 
forces,  and  capable  of  existing  without  them.  In  the 
latter  view  these  little  particles  have  a  definite  form 
and  a  certain  limited  size.  In  the  former  view  such  is 
not  the  case,  for  that  which  represents  size  maybe  con- 
sidered as  extending  to  any  distance  to  which  the  lines 
of  force  of  the  particle  extend.  The  particle,  indeed, 
is  supposed  to  exist  only  by  these  forces,  and  where 
they  are  it  is.' 

At  the  Institution  he  gave  eight  lectures  after  Easter 
on  the  phenomena  and  philosophy  of  heat.  He  ended 
this  course  thus  :  '  We  know  nothing  about  matter  but 
its  forces — nothing  in  the  creation  but  the  effect  of  these 
forces  ;  further  our  sensations  and  perceptions  are  not 
fitted  to  carry  us ;  all  the  rest,  which  we  may  conceive 
we  know,  is  only  imagination;  He  gave  two  Friday 
discourses :  the  first  on  the  nature  of  matter,  the  other 
on  recent  improvements  in  the  silvering  of  mirrors. 

His  notes  of  the  first  lecture  begin  thus  : — '  Specula- 
tions, dangerous  temptations  ;  generally  avoid  them  ; 
but  a  time  to  speculate  as  well  as  to  refrain,  all  depends 
upon  the  temper  of  the  mind.  I  was  led  to  consider 
the  nature  of  space  in  relation  to  electric  conduction, 
and  so  of  matter,  i.e.  whether  continuous  or  consisting 
of  particles  with  intervening  space,  according  to  its  sup- 
posed constitution.  Consider  this  point,  remarking  the 
assumptions  everywhere. 

'  Chemical  considerations  abundant,  but  almost  all 
assumption.  Easy  to  speak  of  atomic  proportions,  mul- 
tiple proportions,  isomeric  and  isomorphic  phenomena 
and  compound  bases  ;  and  to  account  for  effects  we  have 


BEST   BETWEEN   THE    PEKIODS    OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  175 

only  to  hang  on  to  assumed  atoms  the  properties  or     1844. 
arrangement  of  properties  assumed  to  be  sufficient  for  jE-r.52-53. 
the  purpose.    But  the  fundamental  and  main  facts  are 
expressed  by  the   term  definite  proportion, — the  rest, 
including  the  atomic  notion,  is  assumption. 

'  The  view  that  physical  chemistry  necessarily  takes 
of  atoms  is  now  very  large  and  complicated  ;  first  many 
elementary  atoms — next  compound  and  complicated 
atoms.  System  within  system,  like  the  starry  heavens, 
may  be  right — but  may  be  all  wrong.  Thus  see  how 
little  of  general  theory  of  matter  is  known  as  fact,  and 
how  much  is  assumption. 

4  Final  brooding  impression,  that  particles  are  only 
centres  of  force  ;  that  the  force  or  forces  constitute 
the  matter ;  that  therefore  there  is  no  space  between 
the  particles  distinct  from  the  particles  of  matter  ;  that 
they  touch  each  other  just  as  much  in  gases  as  in 
liquids  or  solids ;  and  that  they  are  materially  pene- 
trable, probably  even  to  their  very  centres.  That,  for 
instance,  water  is  not  two  particles  of  oxygen  side  by 
side,  but  two  spheres  of  power  mutually  penetrated,  and 
the  centres  even  coinciding. 

'  As  I  begin  by  a  warning  against  speculation,  so  end 
by  a  warning  against  too  much  assurance.  What  is 
the  experience  to  us  of  past  ages — all  sure  in  their 
days  except  the  most  wise — yet  how  little  remains,  and 
are  we  wiser  in  our  generation  ?  Was  earth,  air,  fire 
and  water  right ;  then  salt,  sulphur,  and  mercury ;  then 
phlogiston ;  then  oxyacids  and  oxygen ;  now  atoms  ? 
We  may  be  sure  of  facts,  but  our  interpretation  of  facts 
we  should  doubt.  He  is  the  wisest  philosopher  who 
holds  his  theory  with  some  doubt ;  who  is  able  to  pro- 


176  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1844.  portion  his  judgment  and  confidence  to  the  value  of 
^ET.51-52.  the  evidence  set  before  him,  taking  a  fact  for  a  fact, 
and  a  supposition  for  a  supposition ;  as  much  as  pos- 
sible keeping  his  mind  free  from  all  source  of  prejudice, 
or  where  he  cannot  do  this  (as  in  the  case  of  a  theory) 
remembering  that  such  a  source  is  there.' 

Two  remarkable  letters  were  written  to  him  regard- 
ing this  lecture  by  two  medical  men,  Dr.  Mayo  and 
Joseph  Henry  Green.  They  both  looked  at  the  lecture 
from  a  metaphysical  point  of  view,  and  came  to  very 
opposite  conclusions. 

DR.    MAYO   TO    FARADAY. 

<56  Wimpole  Street:  March  6,  1844. 

1  My  dear  Sir,  —  You  will,  I  trust,  excuse  my 
troubling  you  with  some  remarks  on  the  admirable 
lecture,  of  which  you  have  kindly  favoured  me  with 
an  abstract.  Believing  that  no  analytical  inquiry  has 
ever  been  set  on  foot,  without  some  preconceived 
hypothesis,  I  imagine  also  that  theory  and  hypothesis 
never  need  interfere  with  the  prosecution  of  an 
inquiry.  .  .  Your  discoveries,  indeed,  sufficiently  show 
the  value  of  hypothesis.  For  no  man  uses  its  language 
more  successfully  than  you  do,  as  the  associating  agent 
in  your  analytical  inquiries.  In  this  respect  your 
intellectual  operations  supply  a  striking  proof  of  the 
value  of  a  vivid  imagination  in  a  philosopher. 

But  I  would  suggest  to  you  the  following  doubts  as 
to  the  hypothetical  expression  which  you  are  disposed 
to  substitute  for  that,  at  present  in  use,  of  the  atomic 
doctrine. 


LETTEKS    DURING    HIS   REST.  177 

4  Your  atmosphere  of  force,  grouped  round  a  mathe-      1844. 
matical  point,  is  not,  as  other  hypothetical  expressions  ^Ex.52-53. 
have  been  in  the  course  of  your  researches,  an  expres- 
sion linking  together  admitted  phenomena,  but  rather 
superseding  the  material  phenomena  which  it  pretends 
to  explain.     It  resolves,  in  fact,  as  it  would  appear  to 
me,  all  matter  into  a  metaphysical  abstraction.     For  it 
must  ail  consist  of  the  mathematical   point,  and  the 
atmosphere  of  force  grouped  around  it. 

'  You  ought  perhaps  to  carry  your  disposition  to 
limit  our  real  knowledge  of  things  to  effects  and  laws  a 
little  further,  and  apply  it  also  to  your  own  hypothesis. 
A  mathematical  point  with  an  atmosphere  of  force 
around  it,  is  in  respect  to  the  atmosphere  of  force 
an  expression  of  certain  effects.  But  what  is  the 
mathematical  point  ? 

'  The  question  which  the  philosopher  has  to  answer  in 
deciding  whether  he  should  accept  this  or  any  other 
hypothesis  on  the  subject,  is  whether  it  best  interprets 
phenomena  or  is  least  at  variance  with  them  ;  the  ob- 
jection which  you  take  to  atoms  on  the  ground  of  their 
uncertain  magnitude  is  one  which  presumes  that  we 
pretend  to  more  knowledge  of  them  than  those  who 
entertain  that  theory  need  affect  to  possess.  Indeed, 
your  mathematical  point  is  either  a  simple  negation,  as 
having  neither  magnitude  nor  parts  ;  or  is  itself,  after 
all,  a  material  atom. 

'  The  objection  that  silver  must  vanish  if  its  forces 
are  abstracted  may  prove  the  necessity  of  forces  to  our 
conception  of  silver,  but  does  not  disprove  the  necessity 
of  silver  to  our  conception  of  its  forces ;  all  that  we 
can  positively  assert  as  known,  are  effects  or  forces  ;  but 
we  are  organised  and  irresistibly  impelled  to  assume 

VOL.  IT.  N 


178  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.     substantise  of  which  these  are  properties.      Berkeley 

^ET!  53.    permitted   himself  to   philosophise   in   regard   to  the 

external  world,  just  as  if  he  had  not  proved  that  our 

sensations  are  all  that  we  can  confidently  assert  as  known 

to  us. 

'  But  I  will  not  detain  you  longer.  If  my  imperfect 
acquaintance  with  this  class  of  subjects  has  occasioned 
me  to  write  nonsense,  pray  tear  my  letter,  but 

'  Believe  me,  your  sincere  friend  and  admirer, 

'  THOMAS  MAYO.' 

JOS.  HENRY  GREEN  TO  FARADAY. 

'  Hadley,  near  Barnet :  July  3,  1845. 

1  Dear  Sir, — I  have  read  your  lecture  on  the  nature 
of  matter  with  all  the  delight  which  any  one  must  feel 
in  finding  the  opinions  which  he  has  long  held  so  ably 
vindicated  and  so  clearly  illustrated. 

'  There  is,  however,  one  difficulty  which  will  be  felt 
in  adopting  the  theory  of  Boscovich,  namely,  that 
matter,  or  the  physical  agent,  fills  indeed  space,  that  is 
by  virtue  of  its  forces,  but  does  not  occupy  it.  The 
ideal  points  which  are  the  foci  of  forces  attractive  and 
repulsive,  do  not  present  any  intelligible  conditions  for 
the  origination  and  renewal  of  the  forces. 

'  There  is  a  want  of  the  idea  of  substance.  This,  it 
is  true,  is  unfortunately  an  equivocal  word  :  but  I 
flatter  myself  that  in  the  appendix  to  the  "Vital 
Dynamics,"  of  which  I  ordered  a  copy  to  be  sent  to 
you,— namely,  in  the  "  evolution  of  the  idea  of 
power,"  I  have  given  it  a  correct  philosophical  im- 
port in  assigning  to  it  an  equivalent  meaning  with  the 


BEST   BETWEEN   THE    PERIODS    OF   HIS   RESEARCHES.  179 

"subject,"  id    quod  jacet   sub,— that   it   is  therefore      1844. 
essentially    supersensuous,  beyond  the  possible  appre-  2^52^53. 
hension    of   the    senses,   but  necessarily    inferred   as 
quomodo  ejtisdem  generis,  with  that  which  constitutes 
our   own  subjectivity,  and  consciously  known  as  will, 
spirit,  power. 

'  This  seems  to  me  to  be  the  true  ground  and 
key  of  all  dynamic  philosophy ;  but  it  has  led  me 
further,  and  I  cannot  but  think  that  you  have  been  also 
induced  to  extend  your  views  in  the  same  direction. 
Taught  by  your  researches,  that  chemical  combination 
depends  upon  the  equilibrium  and  neutralisation  of 
opposite  forces,  the  liberation  of  which  by  decompo- 
sition resolves  them  into  voltaic  currents,  I  have  been 
unavoidably  forced  back  upon  the  question;  If  the 
electric  forces  are  the  true  agents  of  chemical  change, 
what  share  have  the  material  substances  or  chemical 
stuffs  in  the  phenomena  ?  And  though  my  knowledge 
of  the  subject  is  too  imperfect  to  permit  me  to  come 
to  any  satisfactory  conclusion,  I  must  say  that  all  the 
arguments  I  can  muster  bring  me  to  the  result,  that 
these  supposed  stuffs  are  but  the  sensuous  signs  and 
symbols  of  the  forces  engaged  in  their  production. 
Would  that  it  were  my  good  fortune  to  communicate 
with  you  more  at  large  on  this  matter. 
'  Your  obliged, 

'Jos.  HENRY  GREEN.' 

This  year  for  the  Trinity  House  he  cnly  examined 
different  kinds  of  cottons  for  the  lamps  of  the  light- 
houses. 

Some  of  his  notes  of  the  Haswell  Colliery  accident 
*how  how  he  worked  at  whatever  he  undertook. 


x  2 


180  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1844.  The  accident  happened  Saturday,  September  28, 
^Ex.52-53.  1844,  about  three  o'clock  P.M. 

Tuesday,  October  8th. — Went  with  Mr.  Lyell  from 
London  to  Durham. 

Wednesday.,  9th. — We  went  to  Haswell  and  were  at 
the  inquest  all  day.  This  is  the  fourth  day,  and  is  an 
adjournment  from  last  Wednesday.  William  Chiltern 
examined,  pitman,  Haswell  Colliery ;  lampkeeper  ;  had 
four  Davy  lamps  brought  to  him ;  does  not  know  the 
day ;  knows  the  numbers  of  the  lamps  ;  ninety-four 
belongs  to  Hans  Ward,  ninety-one  to  Thomas  Turnbull, 
ninety-five  to  Ma  the  w  Cleugh,  a  boy  ten  or  twelve 
years  old  ;  fifty-one  to  John  Corry.  Are  now  in  same 
state  as  when  brought  to  him  ;  were  perfect  when 
taken  from  him — taken  by  the  men  on  Saturday 
morning. 

The  lamps  were  bruised  and  bent — too  much  so  ;  and 
holes  torn  in  the  gauze.  One  had  the  oil-plug  out ;  one 
a  bend.  One  had  signs  of  fire  on  the  lower  half  of  the 
gauze,  as  if  gas  had  been  burning  against  it ;  and 
there  was  also  a  round  mark  of  the  same  kind  on  the 
side  of  the  gauze,  near  the  top,  showing  that  that  part 
had  been  over  the  top  of  the  flame,  and  this  mark 
corresponded  with  the  crush  the  gauze  and  lamp  had 
received.  I  believe  that  the  lower  oxidation  shows 
that  gas  was  in  the  mine.  Two  of  the  lamps  were 
oily,  as  if  they  had  lain  on  their  side  and  the  oil  had 
flowed  on  to  the  gauze.  The  gauzes  were  good,  and 
also  the  lamps,  and  there  is  every  appearance  of  all 
having  been  in  a  good  state  before  the  accident. 

Thursday,  10^. — Mr.  Lyell  and  I  went  down  the 
Haswell  little  pit,  and  carefully  examined  the  workings ; 
went  down  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  came  up  about 


I 


REST    BETWEEN    THE    PERIODS  OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  181' 

half-past   six  or  seven  o'clock.     Whilst  in   the  mine     1844. 
heard  one  fall ;  and  near  Williamson  judd   were   in  ii^-sV. 
some  danger  from  a  fall  that  fell  in  the  midst  of  us, 
cutting  off  Mr.  Lyell  and  some  from  myself  and  others. 

Friday,  1M. — Again  at  the  inquest,  which  was 
resumed  this  morning. 

George  Hunter. — Colliery  viewer  for  twenty-five 
years,  known  coal  mines  for  forty  years.  Examined 
the  pit  on  Tuesday  with  Mr.  Wood.  Agrees  generally 
with  Mr.  Wood,  but  always  expects  gas  in  the  goaf, 
if  there  be  any  gas  at  all ;  thinks  the  accident  arose 
from  gas  in  the  goaf,  and  a  lamp  injured  by  a  fall. 
When  the  barometer  is  low,  gas  appears.  There  are  con- 
stant changes  in  the  gas  with  high  and  low  barometer  ; 
when  it  has  been  high  and  a  sudden  fall  comes,  gas 
appears.  Men  can  light  a  pipe  by  a  Davy  lamp. 
Smoking  is  strictly  forbidden,  but  has  known  cases  of 
men  smoking;  men  will  smoke  sometimes — is  a  very 
great  evil. 

Jury  would  call  no  more  witnesses,  and  gave  a 
verdict  of  accidental  death.  Fully  agree  with  them. 

Saturday,  Vlth. — Eeturned  to  London. 

Five  days'  inquest.  For  reports,  see  '  Times,'  October 
2,  3,  4,  11,  12,  1844. 

The  following  account  was  lately  written  by  Sir 
Charles  Lyell  at  the  request  of  a  friend  : — 

'Faraday  undertook  the  charge  with  much  reluct- 
ance, but  no  sooner  had  he  accepted  it  than  he  seemed 
to  be  quite  at  home  in  his  new  vocation.  He  was  seated 
near  the  coroner,  and  cross-examined  the  witnesses 
with  as  much  talent,  skill,  and  self-possession  as  if  he 
had  been  an  old  practitioner  at  the  bar.  We  spent 
eight  hours,  not  without  danger,  in  exploring  the 


182  LIFE   OF    FARADAY 

1844.  galleries  where  the  chief  loss  of  life  had  been  incurred. 
^ET.52-53.  Among  other  questions,  Faraday  asked  in  what  way 
they  measured  the  rate  at  which  the  current  of  air 
flowed  in  the  mine.  An  inspector  took  a  small  pinch 
of  gunpowder  out  of  a  box,  as  he  might  have  taken  a 
pinch  of  snuff,  and  allowed  it  to  fall  gradually  through 
the  flame  of  a  candle  which  he  held  in  the  other  hand. 
His  companion,  with  a  watch,  marked  the  time  the 
smoke  took  going  a  certain  distance.  Faraday  ad- 
mitted that  this  plan  was  sufficiently  accurate  for  their 
purpose  ;  but,  observing  the  somewhat  careless  manner 
in  which  they  handled  their  powder,  he  asked  where 
they  kept  it.  They  said  they  kept  it  in  a  bag,  the  neck  of 
which  was  tied  up  tight.  "  But  where,"  said  he,  "do  you 
keep  the  bag  ?  "  "  You  are  sitting  on  it,"  was  the  reply  ; 
for  they  had  given  this  soft  and  yielding  seat,  as  the 
most  comfortable  one  at  hand,  to  the  commissioner. 
He  sprang  up  on  his  feet,  and,  in  a  most  animated  and 
expressive  style,  expostulated  with  them  for  their  care- 
lessness, which,  as  he  said,  was  especially  discreditable 
to  those  who  should  be  setting  an  example  of  vigilance 
and  caution  to  others  who  were  hourly  exposed  to  the 
danger  of  explosions Hearing  that  a  subscrip- 
tion had  been  opened  for  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the 
men  who  had  perished  by  the  explosion,  I  found,  on 
inquiry,  that  Faraday  had  already  contributed  largely. 
On  speaking  to  him  on  the  subject,  he  apologised  for 
having  done  so  without  mentioning  it  to  me,  saying 
that  he  did  not  wish  me  to  feel  myself  called  upon  to 
subscribe  because  he  had  done  so.' 


LETTERS   DURING    HIS   REST.  183 


II. 

His  reputation  was  marked  this  year  by  his  election 
as  one  of  the  eight  foreign  Associates  of  the  Academy 
of  Sciences,  Paris.  In  answer  to  Mr.  Magrath,  who 
sent  him  from  the  '  Journal  des  Debats  '  notice  of  his 
election,  he  said, — 

'  I  received  by  this  morning's  post  notice  of  the 
event  in  a  letter  from  Dumas,  who  wrote  from  the 
Academy  at  the  moment  of  the  deciding  the  ballot, 
and,  to  make  it  more  pleasant,  Arago  directed  it  on 
the  outside.' 

He  was  also  made  Honorary  Member  of  the  Sheffield 
Scientific  Society. 

A  letter  from  Baron  Humboldt,  and  one  from  Pro- 
fessor Liebig,  are  both  characteristic  of  the  writers ; 
and  one  from  Miss  Edgeworth,  is  of  some  interest. 

ALEXANDER   HUMBOLDT   TO    FARADAY. 

'  Sans-Souci,  le  12  mars  1844. 

'  Je  sais  que  vous  avez  conserve,  monsieur,  beaucoup 
de  bienveillance  pour  ma  personne  et  mes  travaux ;  je 
merite  cette  insigne  faveur  par  1'admiration  que  je  pro- 
fesse  pour  vous,  parce  que,  un  des  premiers  sur  le  con- 
tinent, j'ai  devine  combien  votre  nom  deviendrait 
grand. 

'  J'ecris  ces  lignes  pour  vous  donner  un  petit  signe 
de  vie,  et  pour  vous  prier  de  recevoir  avec  bien- 
veillance un  de  mes  plus  spirituels  amis  le  docteur 
Carus  (de  Dresde),  premier  medecin  du  roi  de  Saxe, 
celebre  parmi  nous  par  de  beaux  travaux  de  physio- 


184  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1844.     logie  et  de  la  plus  fine  anatomie  des  animaux   d'un 
MT.  52.    ordre  inferieur. 

1  Permettez  qu'il  soit  aupres  de  vous  Finterprete  des 
sentiments  de  respectueuse  admiration  que  je  vous  ai 
voues  pour  la  vie. 

'  AL.  HUMBOLDT.' 

PROFESSOR   LIEBIG    (^Ex.  41)    TO    FARADAY. 

'Giessen:  December  19,  1844. 

*  Dear  Faraday, — 

'  Nature  has  bestowed  on  you  a  wonderfully  active 
mind,  which  takes  a  lively  share  in  everything  that 
relates  to  science.  Many  years  ago  your  works  im- 
parted to  me  the  highest  regard  for  you,  which  has 
continually  increased  as  I  grew  up  in  years  and 
ripened  in  judgment ;  and  now  that  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  making  your  personal  acquaintance,  and 
seeing  that  in  your  character  as  a  man  you  stand  as 
high  as  you  do  in  science,  a  feeling  of  the  greatest 
affection  and  esteem  has  been  added  to  my  admiration. 
You  may  hence  conceive  how  grateful  I  am  for  the 
proof  of  friendship  which  you  have  given  me. 

'  I  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  my  journey 
in  Great  Britain ;  rare  proofs  of  recognition  have  in- 
deed been  given  me.  What  struck  me  most  in  Eng- 
land was  the  perception  that  only  those  works  which 
have  a  practical  tendency  awake  attention  and  com- 
mand respect ;  while  the  purely  scientific,  which  possess 
far  greater  merit,  are  almost  unknown.  And  yet  the 
latter  are  the  proper  and  true  source  from  which  the 
others  flow.  Practice  alone  can  never  lead  to  the 
discovery  of  a  truth  or  a  principle.  In  Germany  it 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   BEST.  185 

is  quite  the  contrary.  Here,  in  the  eyes  of  scientific  ]844. 
men,  no  value,  or  at  least  but  a  trifling  one,  is  placed  "M^L 
on  the  practical  results.  The  enrichment  of  science  is 
alone  considered  worthy  of  attention.  I  do  not  mean 
to  say  that  this  is  better ;  for  both  nations  the  golden 
medium  would  certainly  be  a  real  good  fortune.  The 
meeting  at  York,  which  was  very  interesting  to  me 
from  the  acquaintance  of  so  many  celebrated  men,  did 
not  satisfy  me  in  a  scientific  point  of  view.  It  was 
properly  a  feast  given  to  the  geologists,  the  other 
sciences  serving  only  to  decorate  the  table.  The 
direction,  too,  taken  by  the  geologists  appeared  to  me 
singular,  for  in  most  of  them,  even  the  greatest,  I  found 
only  an  empirical  knowledge  of  stones  and  rocks,  of 
some  petrifactions  and  few  plants,  but  no  science. 
Without  a  thorough  knowledge  of  physics  and  che- 
mistry, even  without  mineralogy,  a  man  may  be  a 
great  geologist  in  England.  I  saw  a  great  value  laid 
on  the  presence  of  petrifactions  and  plants  in  fossils, 
whilst  they  either  do  not  know  or  consider  at  all  the 
chemical  elements  of  the  fossils,  those  very  elements 
which  made  them  what  they  are. 

'  Farewell,  dear  Faraday,  preserve  to  me  your 
friendly  favour,  and  believe  me,  with  all  sincerity,  to 
be,  yours  very  truly, 

'  DR.  JUST.  LIEBIG.' 

MISS  EDGEWORTII  TO  FARADAY. 

'Edgeworth  Town:  May 6,  1844. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  am  much  gratified  by  your  desire  to 
have  my  father's  memoirs  as  a  souvenir  from  myself, 
and  you  shall  have  the  assurance  of  my  grateful  regard 


18G  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1845.     and  high  esteem  under  my  own  hand — a  hand  which 
^ET.52-53.  never  was  put  to  a  false  compliment  or  an  insincere 
profession. 

'Were  I  writing  to  anyone  but  yourself,  I  would 
express  without  restraint  or  reserve,  and  with  the 
warmth  with  which  I  feel  it,  admiration  for  talents 
and  inventive  genius  directed  to  the  best  purposes,  free 
from  the  petty  envy  and  jealousy  which  too  often 
cloud  the  lustre  of  genius  and  poison  the  happiness  of 
the  possessor. 

'  The  brightness  of  your  day,  the  cheerfulness  of 
your  temper  even  under  the  trials  of  ill-health,  and 
the  evident  enjoyment  you  have  in  science  and  litera- 
ture for  their  own  sake,  together  with  your  love  for 
your  private  friends  and  the  serenity  of  your  domestic 
life,  prove  (whatever  Eousseau  may  have  said  or  felt  to 
the  contrary)  that  "  Sois  grand  homme  et  sois  mal- 
heureux"  is  not  the  inevitable  doom  of  genius. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir,  sincerely  yours, 

*  MARIA  EDGE  WORTH.' 

A  letter  to  his  friend,  Professor  De  la  Eive,  on  the 
condensation  of  gases,  belongs  to  this  year  ;  and  one  to  a 
noble  lady  of  the  highest  talent,  '  who  proposed  to 
become  his  disciple,  and  to  go  through  with  him  all  his 
own  experiments.'  These  are  pictures  of  his  nature. 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  DE  LA  RIVE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  February  20,  1845. 

4  My  dear  de  la  Eive, — The  thought  of  writing  to 
you  has  been  so  constantly  on  my  mind,  and  therefore 
by  comparison  so  fresh,  that  I  had  no  idea,  until  this 


LETTERS    DURING    HIS   REST.  187 

minute  that  I  have  looked  at  your  letter,  that  I  had  1845.^ 
received  it  so  long  ago.  I  have  waited  and  waited  JErTss. 
for  a  result,  intending  to  write  off  to  you  on  the  instant, 
and  hoping  by  that  to  give  a  little  value  to  my  letter, 
until  now,  when  the  time  being  gone,  and  the  result 
not  having  arrived,  I  am  in  a  worse  condition  than 
ever,  and  the  only  value  my  letter  can  have  will  be 
in  the  kindness  with  which  you  will  receive  it.  The 
result  I  hoped  for  was  the  condensation  of  oxygen,  but 
though  I  have  squeezed  him  with  a  pressure  of  sixty 
atmospheres,  at  the  temperature  of  140°  F.  below  0°, 
he  would  not  settle  down  into  the  liquid  or  solid  state. 
And  now  being  tired  and  ill,  and  obliged  to  prepare 
for  lectures,  I  must  put  the  subject  aside  for  a  little 
while.  Other  results  of  this  kind,  i.e.  of  the  liquefaction 
and  solidification  of  bodies  usually  gaseous,  which  I 
have  obtained,  you  will  have  seen  noticed  in  the 
"  Annales  de  Chimie."  The  full  account  I  hope  to 
end  you  soon  from  the  "  Philosophical  Transactions." 

'  As  to  the  ozone  subject.  It  is  exceedingly  curious, 
and  I  am  really  surprised  to  think  how  many  results 
and  reasons  there  appear  to  be,  all  tending  in  one 
direction,  and  yet  without  any  one  of  them  furnishing 
an  overruling  and  undeniable  proof.  I  get  confused 
with  the  numerous  reasons ;  my  bad  memory  will  not 
hold  them,  and  with  my  judgment  longs  to  rest  on 
some  one  proof,  such  as  a  little  ozone  in  the  separate 
visible  or  tangible  state. 

'  Nitrogen  is  certainly  a  strange  body ;  it  encourages 
every  sort  of  guess  about  its  nature,  and  will  satisfy 
none.  I  have  been  trying  to  look  at  it  in  the  con- 
densed state,  but  as  yet  it  escapes  me. 

'  Your  kind  invitation  for  the  scientific  meeting  in 


188  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1844.  August  is  very  pleasant  to  the  thought,  but  I  dare  not 
^GT.  53.  hope  much  for  such  happiness.  I  long  to  see  Geneva 
and  Switzerland  again,  but  there  are  many  things 
which  come  between  me  and  my  desires  in  that  re- 
spect. I  know  the  kindness  of  your  heart,  and  how 
far  I  may  draw  upon  you  if  I  come ;  and  I  thank  you 
most  truly  for  not  only  the  invitation  you  have  sent 
me,  but  for  all  the  favour  you  would  willingly  show 
me.  Do  you  remember  one  hot  day,  I  cannot  tell 
how  many  years  ago,  when  I  was  hot  and  thirsty  in 
Geneva,  and  you  took  me  to  your  house  in  the  town, 
and  gave  me  a  glass  of  water  and  raspberry  vinegar  If 
That  glass  of  drink  is  refreshing  to  me  still. 

4  Adieu,  rny  dear  friend.  Eemember  me  kindly  to 
Madame  de  la  Eive  ;  and,  if  I  am  not  too  far  wrong  in 
the  collection  of  thoughts  and  remembrance  of  past 
things,  bring  me  to  the  mind  of  one  or  two  young 
friends  who  showed  me  a  doll's  house  once,  and  with 
whom  I  played  on  the  green. 

'  Yours  most  truly  and  affectionately, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

To  a  lady  of  the  highest  talent  who  proposed  '  to 
become  his  disciple  and  to  go  through  with  him  all  his 
own  experiments,'  he  wrote  : — 

'  Eoyal  Institution  :  October  24,  1844. 

'  Dear  Lady , — Your  letter  ought  to  have  been 

answered  before,  but  there  are  two  circumstances  which 
have  caused  delay — its  high  character  and  my  want  of 
health  ;  for  since  I  returned  from  a  very  forced  journey 
to  Durham,  I  have  been  under  the  doctor's  hand.  I 
am  quickly  recovering,  and  now  have  the  difficult 


LETTERS    DUBIXG   HIS   REST.  189 

pleasure  of  writing  to  you.  I  need  not  say  how  much  1844. 
I  value  your  letter — you  can  feel  that ;  and  even  if  it  JET.  53. 
were  possible  that  you  did  not,  no  words  of  mine  would 
convey  the  consciousness  to  you  :  the  thanks  which  I 
owe  you  can  only  properly  be  acknowledged  by  an  open 
and  sincere  reply,  and  the  absence  of  all  conventional 
phrase.  I  wonder  that,  with  your  high  object,  and 
with  views,  determinations,  and  hopes  consistent  with 
it — all  of  which  are  justified  by  the  mind  and  powers 
which  you  possess,  which  latter  are  not  known  to  your- 
self only,  but,  as  I  say  in  perfect  simplicity,  are  now 
made  fully  manifest  to  others.  I  wonder  that  you 
should  think  as  I  believe  you  do  of  me.  But  whilst 
I  wonder,  and  at  the  same  time  feel  fully  conscious  of 
my  true  position  amongst  those  that  think  and  know 
how  unworthy  I  am  of  such  estimation,  I  still  receive  it 
with  gratitude  from  you,  as  much  for  the  deep  kindness 
as  for  that  proportion  of  the  praise  which  I  may  per- 
haps think  myself  entitled  to,  and  which  is  the  more 
valuable  because  of  the  worthiness  of  the  giver. 

'  That  with  your  deep  devotion  to  your  object  you 
will  attain  it,  I  do  not  doubt.  Not  that  I  think  your 
aspirations  will  not  grow  with  your  increasing  state 
of  knowledge,  and  even  faster  than  it ;  but  you  must  be 
continually  passing  from  the  known  to  the  unknown, 
and  the  brightness  of  that  which  will  become  known, 
as  compared  to  the  dulness,  or  rather  obscurity,  which 
now  surrounds  it,  will  be,  and  is  worthy  to  be,  your 
expected  reward.  And,  though  I  may  not  live  to  see 
you  attain  even  what  your  mind  now  desires,  yet 
it  will  be  a  continually  recurring  thought  in  my 
imaginings,  that  if  you  have  life  given  you  you  will 
do  so. 


rito 


LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 


1844.  «  That  I  should  rejoice  to  aid  you  in  your  purpose 
JET.  53.  you  cannot  doubt,  but  nature  is  against  you.  You  have 
all  the  confidence  of  unbaulked  health  and  youth 
both  in  body  and  mind  ;  I  am  a  labourer  of  many 
years'  standing,  made  daily  to  feel  my  wearing  out. 
You,  with  increasing  acquisition  of  knowledge,  enlarge 
your  views  and  intentions  ;  I,  though  I  may  gain  from 
day  to  day  some  little  maturity  of  thought,  feel  the  decay 
of  powers,  and  am  constrained  to  a  continual  process 
of  lessening  my  intentions  and  contracting  my  pursuits. 
Many  a  fair  discovery  stands  before  me  in  thought 
which  I  once  intended,  and  even  now  desire,  to  work 
out ;  but  I  lose  all  hope  respecting  them  when  I  turn  my 
thoughts  to  that  one  which  is  in  hand,  and  see  how 
slowly,  for  want  of  time  and  physical  power,  it  advances, 
and  how  likely  it  is  to  be  not  only  a  barrier  between 
me  and  the  many  beyond  in  intellectual  view,  but  even 
the  last  upon  the  list  of  those  practically  wrought  out. 
Understand  me  in  this :  I  am  not  saying  that  my  mind 
is  wearing  out,  but  those  physico-mental  faculties  by 
which  the  mind  and  body  are  kept  in  conjunction  and 
work  together,  and  especially  the  memory,  fail  me,  and 
hence  a  limitation  of  all  that  I  was  once  able  to  per- 
form into  a  much  smaller  extent  than  heretofore.  It 
is  this  which  has  had  a  great  effect  in  moulding  portions 
of  my  later  life  ;  has  tended  to  withdraw  me  from  the 
communion  and  pursuits  of  men  of  science,  my  con- 
temporaries; has  lessened  the  number  of  points  of 
investigation  (that  might  at  some  time  have  become 
discoveries)  which  I  now  pursue,  and  which,  in  con- 
junction with  its  effects,  makes  me  say,  most  unwillingly, 
that  I  dare  not  undertake  what  you  propose — to  go 
with  you  through  even  my  own  experiments.  You  do 


LETTERS    DURING   HIS   REST  191 

Dot  know,   and  should  not  now  but  that  I  have  no      1844. 
concealment  on  this  point  from  you,  how  often  I  have     JET.  53. 
to  go  to  rny  medical  friend  to  speak  of  giddiness  and 
aching  of  the  head,  &c.,   and  how  often  he   has  to 
bid  me  cease  from  restless  thoughts  and  mental  occu- 
pation and  retire  to  the  sea-side  to  inaction. 

*  If  I  were  with  you,  I  could  talk  for  hours  of  your 
letter  and  its  contents,  though  it  would  do  my  head 
no  good,  for  it  is  a  most  fertile  source  of  thoughts  to 
my  mind  ;  and  whether  we  might  differ  upon  this  or 
that  point  or  not,  I  am  sure  we  should  not  disagree.  I 
should  be  glad  to  think  that  high  mental  powers  insured 
something  like  a  high  moral  sense,  but  have  often  been 
grieved  to  see  the  contrary,  as  also,  on  the  other  hand, 
my  spirit  has  been  cheered  by  observing  in  some  lowly 
and  uninstructed  creature  such  a  healthful  and  honour- 
able and  dignified  mind  as  made  one  in  love  with 
human  nature.  When  that  which  is  good  mentally 
and  morally  meet  in  one  being,  that  that  being  is  more 
fitted  to  work  out  and  manifest  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
creation,  I  fully  admit. 

1  You  speak  of  religion,  and  here  you  will  be  sadly 
disappointed  in  me.  You  will  perhaps  remember  that 
I  guessed,  and  not  very  far  aside,  your  tendency  in 
this  respect.  Your  confidence  in  me  claims  in  return 
mine  to  you,  which  indeed  I  have  no  hesitation  to  give 
on  fitting  occasions,  but  these  I  think  are  very  few,  for 
in  my  mind  religious  conversation  is  generally  in  vain. 
There  is  no  philosophy  in  my  religion.  I  am  of  a  very 
small  and  despised  sect  of  Christians,  known,  if  known  at 
all,  as  Sandemanians,  and  our  hope  is  founded  on  the 
faith  that  is  in  Christ.  But  though  the  natural  works  of 
God  can  never  by  any  possibility  come  in  contradiction 


192  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 


with  the  higher  things  thatbelong  to  our  future  existence, 
.  53.  and  must  with  everything  concerning  Him  ever  glorify 
Him,  still  I  do  not  think  it  at  all  necessary  to  tie  the 
study  of  the  natural  sciences  and  religion  together,  and, 
in  my  intercourse  with  my  fellow  creatures,  that  which 
is  religious  and  that  which  is  philosophical  have  ever 
been  two  distinct  things. 

'  And  now,  my  dear  Lady,  I  must  conclude  until  I 
see  you  in  town  ;  being  indeed  your  true  and  faithful 
servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


THE    LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS  EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  193 


CHAPTEE  III. 

LATER  PERIOD  OF  ELECTRICAL  RESEARCH— DISCOVERY  OF  THE 
'MAGNETISATION  OF  LIGHT '—THE  MAGNETIC  STATE  OF  ALL 
MATTER — ATMOSPHERIC  MAGNETISM. 

THE  second  period  of  Faraday's  electrical  work  lasted     1845. 
ten  years.     The  discoveries  he  made  were  published  in  i^sa-s 
the  '  Philosophical  Transactions.'     They  constitute  from 
the  nineteenth  to  the  thirtieth  series  of  his  'Experimental 
Eesearches   in   Electricity.'     The    three   great   results 
which   he   obtained  he  caUed  'the  magnetisation  of 
light,'    'the   magnetic   condition   of  all   matter,'   and 
'  atmospheric  magnetism.' 

Faraday's  reputation  at  this  time  was  so  great  that 
it  added  to  the  renown  which  followed  the  publication 
of  each  of  these  new  discoveries ;  but  great  as  the 
results  were,  they  will  not  at  the  present  time  rank 
with  the  three  great  discoveries  of <  magneto-electricity,' 
'  voltaic  induction,'  and  '  definite  electro-chemical 
decomposition,'  which  made  the  glory  of  the  first  period 
of  the  '  Eesearches  in  Electricity.' 

I. 

In  the  beginning  of  1845  Faraday  worked  on  the 
condensation  of  gases ;  on  August  30  he  began  to  ex- 
periment on  polarised  light  and  electrolytes,  a  subject 
which  in  1833  had  given  '  no  result.'  After  three  days 
he  worked  with  common  electricity,  trying  glass, 
heavy  optical  glass,  quartz,  Iceland  spa.  Still  he 

VOL.  n.  n 


194  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  got  no  effect  on  the  polarised  ray.  On  September  13 
jEr.63-64.  he  writes  :  '  To-day  worked  with  lines  of  magnetic  force, 
passing  them  across  different  bodies  transparent  in 
different  directions,  and  at  the  same  time  passing  a 
polarised  ray  of  light  through  them,  and  afterwards 
examining  the  ray  by  a  Nichol's  eye-piece  or  other 
means.  Air,  flint-glass,  rock-crystal,  calcareous  spa, 
were  examined,  but  without  effect. 

'  Heavy  glass  was  experimented  with.  It  gave  no 
effects  when  the  same  magnetic  poles  or  the  contrary 
poles  were  on  opposite  sides  (as  respects  the  course  of 
the  polarised  ray),  nor  when  the  same  poles  were  on 
the  same  side  either  with  the  constant  or  intermitting 
current ;  BUT  when  contrary  magnetic  poles  were  on 
the  same  side  there  icas  an  effect  produced  on  the 
polarised  ray,  and  thus  magnetic  force  and  light  were 
proved  to  have  relations  to  each  other.  This  fact  will 
most  likely  prove  exceedingly  fertile,  and  of  great  value 
in  the  investigation  of  conditions  of  natural  force.'  He 
immediately  goes  on  to  examine  other  substances,  but 
with  '  no  effect ;'  and  he  ends  saying :  '  Have  got  enough 
for  to-day.' 

On  September  18  he  makes  out  more  closely  the 
circumstances  and  laws  of  action,  and  '  does  an  excellent 
day's  work  ; '  and  then  for  four  days  he  works  out  his 
results.  On  September  30  he  writes  :  '  So  the  combina- 
tion of  electric  currents  with  magnetic  forces  does  not 
give  any  very  striking  effects,  and  perhaps  there  are 
none  which  polarised  light  can  show.  But  I  am  not 
sure  of  that.  The  quantity  of  fluid  was  very  small  for 
length  of  ray  to  pass  through  (for  in  making  it  more  I 
should  have  weakened  the  magnetic  curves) ;  and  con- 
sidering the  nature  of  the  relation  between  magnetic 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD    OF  HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  195 

and  electric  forces,  I  think  there  must  be  some  effect     1845. 
produced  which  stronger  magnets,  and  other  forms  of  j^^t 
apparatus,   and   the   progress   of  our  knowledge,  will 
enable  us  hereafter  to  develope.' 

'  Still  I  have  at  last  succeeded  in  illuminating  a 
magnetic  curve  or  line  of  force,  and  in  magnetising 
a  ray  of  light.' 

'  What  effect  does  this  force  have  in  the  earth  where 
the  magnetic  curves  of  the  earth  traverse  its  substance  ? 
also  what  effect  in  a  magnet  ? ' 

'  Does  this  force  tend  to  make  iron  and  oxide  of  iron 
transparent  ? ' 

During  October,  for  six  days,  he  worked  at  this  sub- 
ject ;  and  on  November  6  he  sent  the  nineteenth  series  of 
'  Eesearches  in  Electricity '  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  on  the 
magnetisation  of  light  and  the  illumination  of  the  lines 
of  magnetic  force. 
It  begins  thus : 

'  I  have  long  held  an  opinion,  almost  amounting  to 
conviction,  in  common  I  believe  with  many  other  lovers 
of  natural  knowledge,  that  the  various  forms  under  which 
the  forces  of  matter  are  made  manifest  have  one  com- 
mon origin  ;  or,  in  other  words,  are  so  directly  related 
and  mutually  dependent  that  they  are  convertible,  as  it 
were,  one  into  another,  and  possess  equivalents  of  power 
in  their  action. 

4  This  strong  persuasion  extended  to  the  powers  of 
light,  and  led  to  many  exertions  having  for  their  object 
the  discovery  of  the  direct  relation  of  light  and  electri- 
city. These  ineffectual  exertions  could  not  remove  my 
strong  persuasion,  and  I  have  at  last  succeeded. 

'  Not  only  heavy  glass,  but  solids  and  liquids,  acids 
and  alkalies,  oils,  water,  alcohol,  ether,  all  possess  this 


o  2 


196  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  power.  I  have  not  been  able  to  detect  the  exercise  of 
^T  5'3_54"  this  power  in  any  one  of  the  substances  in  the  gaseous 
class.' 

Then  he  showed  that  all  bodies  were  affected  by 
helices  as  by  magnets.  4  The  causes  of  the  action  are 
identical  as  well  as  the  effects.' 

In  conclusion  he  says  :  '  Another  form  of  the  great 
power  is  distinctly  and  directly  related  to  the  other 
forms ;  or  the  great  power  manifested  by  particular 
phenomena  in  particular  forms  is  here  further  identi- 
fied and  recognised  by  the  direct  relation  of  its  form 
of  light  to  its  forms  of  electricity  and  magnetism.' 

On  November  3,  a  new  horse-shoe  magnet  came 
home,  and  Faraday  immediately  began  to  experiment 
on  the  action  of  the  polarized  ray  on  gases,  but  with  no 
effect. 

The  following  day  he  repeated  an  experiment  which 
had  given  no  result  on  October  6.  A  bar  of  heavy 
glass  was  suspended  by  silk  between  the  poles  of  the 
new  magnet.  '  When  it  was  arranged,  and  had  come 
to  rest,  I  found  I  could  affect  it  by  the  magnetic  forces 
and  give  it  position.  Thus  touching  diamagnetics  by 
magnetic  curves,  and  observing  a  property  quite  inde- 
pendent of  light,  by  which  also  we  may  probably  trace 
these  forces  into  opaque  and  other  bodies,  as  the  metals, 
&c.'  Then  he  describes  how  the  heavy  glass  was  repelled 
from  the  poles. 

On  November  7  he  takes  up  his  new  discovery. 
*  First  of  all,  the  great  fact  of  the  4th  was  verified ;  then 
borate  of  lead,  rock-crystal,  flint-glass,  sulphur,  india- 
rubber,  sulphate  of  lime,  asbestus,  jet,  all  acted  as  heavy 
glass.  If  a  man  could  be  in  the  magnetic  field,  like 
Mahomet's  coffin,  he  would  turn  until  across  the 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  197 

magnetic  line.'     All  kinds  of  substances  and  metals     1845. 
proved  to  be  like  the  heavy  glass.  jEx.53-54. 

Dr.  Tyndall  says  : — • 

c  And  now  theoretic  questions  rush  in  upon  him.  Is 
this  new  force  a  true  repulsion,  or  is  it  merely  a  differen- 
tial attraction  ?  Might  not  the  apparent  repulsion  of  dia- 
magnetic  bodies  be  really  due  to  the  greater  attraction 
of  the  medium  by  which  they  are  surrounded  ?  He 
tries  the  rarefaction  of  air,  but  finds  the  effect  insensible. 
He  is  averse  to  ascribing  a  capacity  of  attraction  to 
space,  or  to  any  hypothetical  medium  supposed  to  fill 
space.  He  therefore  inclines,  but  still  with  caution,  to 
the  opinion  that  the  action  of  a  magnet  upon  bismuth 
is  a  true  and  absolute  repulsion,  and  not  merely  the 
result  of  differential  attraction.  And  then  he  clearly 
states  a  theoretic  view  sufficient  to  account  for  the 
phenomena.  "  Theoretically,"  he  says,  "  an  ex- 
planation of  the  movements  of  the  diamagnetic  bodies, 
and  all  the  dynamic  phenomena  consequent  upon  the 
action  of  magnets  upon  them,  might  be  offered  in  the 
supposition  that  magnetic  induction  caused  in  them 
a  contrary  state  to  that  which  it  produced  in  ordinary 
matter."  That  is  to  say,  while  in  ordinary  magnetic 
influence  the  exciting  pole  excites  adjacent  to  itself 
the  contrary  magnetism,  in  diamagnetic  bodies  the 
adjacent  magnetism  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  exciting 
pole.  This  theory  of  reversed  polarity,  however,  does 
not  appear  to  have  ever  laid  deep  hold  of  Faraday's 
mind ;  and  his  own  experiments  failed  to  give  any 
evidence  of  its  truth.  He  therefore  subsequently 
abandoned  it,  and  maintained  the  non-polarity  of  the 
diamagnetic  force.' 


198  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  In  Faraday's  notes  on  November  19, he  says:  'Hence 
MT.53-54.  the  power  of  the  surrounding  medium  to  cause  the 
vertical  attraction  or  repulsion  of  other  bodies  is  very 
manifest,  and  as  yet  everything  seems  to  show  that 
these  actions  are  of  exactly  the  same  nature  as  those  with 
bismuth,  &c.,  in  air.  It  would  be  very  curious  if,  after 
iron,  nickel  and  cobalt,  the  air  were  to  prove  the  next 
most  magnetic  body  ;  but  perhaps  some  of  the  metals, 
as  platinum  or  silver,  may  come  in.'  And  in  a  few  lines 
he  adds  :  '  Air  is  becoming  very  important.  Oxygen 
and  nitrogen  may  have  great  differences  between  them, 
the  magnetic  power  of  one  neutralising  the  deficiency 
of  power  in  the  other.  As  it  is,  air  is  the  most  mag- 
netic of  all  earthly  bodies  except  iron,  nickel  and  cobalt. 
Not  unlikely  that  the  earth's  magnetism  may  reside 
essentially  in  the  air.  All  the  gases  require  careful 
examination  and  consideration.  The  magnetic  con- 
dition and  relation  of  the  air,  gases,  and  vapours,  prob- 
ably a  very  fine  separate  subject.' 

On  December  6  he  sent  the  twentieth  series  and 
on  December  24  the  twenty-first  series  of  '  Experimental 
Kesearches '  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  on  new  magnetic 
actions  and  on  the  magnetic  condition  of  all  matter. 

In  December  he  sent  the  following  sealed  packet  to 
Sir  John  Herschel,  but  at  the  same  time  he  said  that 
Herschel  might  open  it  if  he  pleased. 

'  December  22,  1845. 

'  I  have  reason  from  experiment  to  think  that  a  ray  is 
not  indifferent  as  to  its  line  of  path,  but  has  different 
properties  in  its  two  directions,  and  that  by  opposing 
rays  endways,  new  results  will  be  obtained.  I  have 
ordered  apparatus  already  for  the  experimental  investi- 
gation of  this  point,  and  only  want  time. 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  199 

'I  have  already  made   a  certain  progress   in   the     1845. 
endeavour  to  obtain  electric  currents  or  magnetic  force  ^.53-54. 
from  light,  by  the  use  of  circular  polarisation  natural  and 
constrained,  and  also  on  other  principles  which  I  need 
not  advert  to  here. 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

SIR  JOHN   HERSCHEL  TO   FARADAY. 

1  Collingwood :  January  22,  1846. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — You  did  not  surely  think  me  so  in- 
curious, or  rather  so  deficient  in  interest,  respecting  the 
astonishing  series  of  discoveries  into  which  you  are  now 
entered  fairly,  that,  having  your  express  permission  to 
open  and  read  the  paper  you  sent  me  sealed,  I  should 
not  avail  myself  of  it.  Accordingly,  I  have  done  so, 
but  I  thought  it  best  to  reinclose  it  to  you,  rather  than 
consign  it  to  the  flames,  which  I  would  not  do  to  a  bit 
of  your  hand-writing.  Should  the  first  of  your  views 
expressed  in  it  be  really  verified,  a  new  field  of  specu- 
lation on  the  nature  of  light  will  be  opened,  as  I  do 
not  understand  what  the  undulatory  or  indeed  any 
theory  can  have  to  say  to  a  fact  of  that  nature. 

4  Go  on  and  prosper — "  from  strength  to  strength," 
like  a  victor  marching  with  assured  step  to  further  con- 
quests ;  and  be  assured  that  no  voice  will  join  more 
heartily  in  the  peans  that  already  begin  to  rise,  and 
will  speedily  swell  into  a  shout  of  triumph,  astounding 
even  to  yourself,  than  that  of 

4  Yours  most  truly, 

'  J.  F.  W.  HERSCHEL.' 

He  this  year  published  a  letter  to  M.  Dumas  on  the 
liquefaction  of  gases,  in  the  '  Annales  de  Chimie  ; '  and 


200  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.     papers  on  the  ventilation  of  the  coal-mine  goaf,  and  on 

JET.  54.    the  magnetic  relations  and  characters  of  the  metals,  in 

the  '  Philosophical  Magazine  ; '  and  additional  remarks 

respecting  the  condensation  of  gases  in  the '  Proceedings ' 

of  the  Eoyal  Society, 

His  first  Friday  discourse  was  on  Haswell  Mine 
accident.  In  this  he  said :  '  Coal  mines  are  out  of 
society's  thoroughfare  and  criticism,  and  so  improve 
slowly  only.'  His  second  discourse  was  on  condensed 
gases.  His  third  was  on  anastatic  printing — '  Problem 
stated  as  the  transfer  of  a  printed  page.'  The  last,  on 
the  Artesian  well  and  water  in  Trafalgar  Square. 

He  gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on  chemistry. 

For  the  Trinity  House  he  only  made  a  long  and 
exact  comparison  of  the  consumption  and  light  of 
sperm  and  rape  oil. 

H. 

The  following  letters  from  Sir  John  Herschel,  Dr. 
Whewell,  and  Mrs.  Marcet,  may  be  looked  at  as  marks 
of  his  reputation. 


SIR  JOHN   HERSCHEL   TO   FARADAY. 

'  Collingwood,  Hawkhurst,  Kent :  November  9,  1846. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  this  morning  read  with  great 
delight  a  notice  in  the  "  Athenasum  "  of  your  experi- 
ments proving  the  connection  of  light  with  magnetism. 
In  the  first  place,  let  me  congratulate  you  cordially  on 
a  discovery  of  such  moment,  which  throws  wide  a 
portal  into  the  most  recondite  arcana  of  nature.  If  I 
understand  rightly  the  very  meagre  account  given  of 


LETTEKS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  201 

your  discovery,  it  amounts  to  this — that  the  electro-      I8i5. 
magnetic  current  is  capable  of  causing  the  plane  of   .asr.  z>±. 
polarisation  of  a  ray  of  light  to  revolve,  for  I  can  find 
no  other  probable  interpretation  of  the  expression  "  a 
beam   of   polarised  light  is  deflected  by  the  electric 
current,  so  that  it  may  be  made  to  revolve  between  the 
poles  of  a  magnet." 

'  If  this  be  really  the  state  of  the  case,  it  is  what  I 
have  long  anticipated  as  extremely  likely — indeed, 
almost  certain — to  be  sooner  or  later  experimentally 
demonstrated.  Void  mes  raisons. 

'  There  are  three  distinct  classes  of  phenomena  in 
which  a  helicoidal  dissymmetry  occurs.  1st,  the  plagie- 
dral  faces  on  crystals,  such  as  quartz,  which  belong  to 
an  otherwise  symmetrical  system.  These  faces  in  some 
crystals  indicate  a  right-handed,  in  others  a  left-handed 
dissymmetry  of  the  helicoidal  kind.  2ndly,  the  rotation 
of  the  plane  of  polarisation  of  a  ray  of  light,  when 
transmitted  through  certain  solids  and  liquids,  in- 
dicating a  helicoidal  dissymmetry  both  in  the  ray  and  in 
the  molecules,  or  at  least  a  capacity  in  the  ray  to  be 
affected  by  that  peculiarity  in  the  latter.  3rdly,  in  a 
rectilinear  electric  current,  which,  deflecting  a  needle 
in  a  given  direction,  as  to  right  and  left,  all  around  it, 
indicates  again  a  dissymmetry  of  the  same  kind. 

'  Now,  I  reasoned  thus  : — Here  are  three  phenomena 
agreeing  in  a  very  strange  peculiarity.  Probably,  this 
peculiarity  is  a  connecting  link,  physically  speaking, 
among  them.  Now,  in  the  case  of  the  crystals  and 
the  light,  this  probability  has  been  turned  into  cer- 
tainty by  my  own  experiments.  Therefore,  induction 
led  me  to  conclude  that  a  similar  connection  exists, 
and  must  turn  up  somehow  or  other,  between  the 


202  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.^  electric  current  and  polarised  light,  and  that  the  plane  of 

^T.  54.    polarisation  would  be  deflected  by  magneto-electricity. 

'  It  is  now  a  great  many  years  ago  that  I  tried  to 

bring  this  to  the  test  of  experiment  (I  think  it  was 


between  1822  and  1825),  when,  on  the  occasion  of  a 
great  magnetic  display  by  Mr.  Pepys,  at  the  London 
Institution,  I  came  prepared  with  a  copper  helix  in  an 
earth  ern  tube  (as  a  non-conductor),  and  a  pair  of  black 
glass  plates,  so  arranged  as  that  the  second  reflection 
should  extinguish  a  ray  polarised  by  the  first.  After 
traversing  the  axis  of  the  copper  helix,  I  expected  to 
see  light  take  the  place  of  darkness — perhaps  coloured 
bands — when  contact  was  made.  The  effect  was  nil. 
But  the  battery  was  exhausted,  and  the  wire  long 
and  not  thick,  and  it  was  doubtful  whether  the  full 
charge  remaining  in  the  battery  did  pass,  being  only 
a  single  couple  of  large  plates. 

4  There  remained  to  be  made  another  experiment 
before  a  negative  could  be  considered  as  proved — viz., 
to  make  the  light  move  along  a  straight  wire  or  a  com- 
bination of  such  :  thus — 


but  this  requiring  preparation  on  the  spot,  I  could 
not  then  make,  and  have  never  since  had  an  oppor- 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  203 

tunity ;  but  the  subject  has  often  recurred  to  my  mind,     1845.  ^ 
and  I  have  made  frequent  mention  of  it,  as  a  line  of   -&T.  54. 
experiment  worthy  to  be  pursued. 

'  You  will  be  disposed  to  ask  to  what  all  this  tends. 
Assuredly  not  to  interfere  for  a  moment  with  your 
claim  to  a  beautiful  discovery  (for  though  I  may  regret 
that  I  did  not  prosecute  a  train  of  inquiry  (which 
seemed  so  promising)  up  to  a  decisive  fact,  I  consider 
it  honour  enough  to  have  entertained  a  conception 
which  your  researches  have  converted  into  a  reality) ; 
but  if  it  be  not  presumptuous  in  me  to  suggest  a  line 
of  inquiry  to  you,  I  would  willingly  draw  your 
attention  to  the  other  member  of  the  triple  coincidence 
above  alluded  to. 

1  There  can  be  now  no  doubt  of  the  connection  of  the 
crystalline  forces  with  magnetism  and  electricity.  It 
seems  to  me  now  all  but  certain  that  the  space  or 
ether  (?)  surrounding  an  electrified  wire  or  a  magnet 
is  in  the  same  state  with  the  space  or  ether  intervening 
between  the  molecules  of  a  plagiedral  crystal.  Polar- 
ised light  is  the  test  of  that  state — a  helicoidal,  dissymme- 
trical state.  This  is  the  mode  in  which  the  phenomena 
present  themselves  to  my  mind — not  that  light  is  elec- 
tricity or  magnetism,  but  that  it  is  affected  by  them  as 
by  certain  forms  of  matter ;  which,  therefore,  I  conclude 
to  be  under  the  influence  of  magnetic  currents,  in  some 
concealed  way  circulating  about  them  ;  and  the  line  of 
inquiry  I  allude  to,  is  to  ascertain  whether  the  crystals 
formed  under  the  direct  influence  of  magnetic  currents 
or  between  the  poles  of  magnets  may  not  be  thereby 
made  to  assume  plagiedral  faces  or  show  other  indica- 
tions of  a  symmetrical  action.  If  so,  the  existence  of 


204  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.     the  plagiedral  faces  on  quartz  is  accounted  for  by  the 
-ET.  64.    presence  of  such  currents  during  their  formation. 
'  Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  most  truly, 

'  J.  F.  W.  HERSCHEL.' 

On  the  relation  of  light  to  magnetism,  Dr.  Whewell 
wrote  to  Faraday  : — 

1  Trinity  Lodge,  Cambridge  :  November  20,  1845. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  am  somewhat  scrupulous  about 
trying  to  take  up  your  tune  with  letter  writing,  but  I 
cannot  help  wishing  to  know  a  little  more  than  the 
"Athena3um  "  tells  us  as  to  your  recent  discoveries  of  the 
relations  of  light  and  magnetism.  I  cannot  help 
believing  that  it  is  another  great  stride  up  the  ladder 
of  generalisation,  on  which  you  have  been  climbing  so 
high  and  standing  so  firm.  I  do  not  ask  you  to  take 
the  trouble  of  telling  me  what  your  discovery  is,  but 
perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  tell  me  where  now,  or  in 
a  short  time,  I  may  see  some  distinct  account  of  it. 

4 1  hope  you  will  have  health  and  strength  granted 
you  to  follow  out  this  and  many  more  great  discoveries. 

'  Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

'  W.  WHEWELL.' 

MRS.  MARCET   TO   FARADAY. 

*  Danesbury,  Welwyn,  Herts :  November  24, 1845. 

'  Dear  Mr.  Faraday, — I  have  this  morning  read  in 
the  "Athenaeum,"  some  account  of  a  discovery  you 
announce  to  the  public  respecting  the  identity  of  the 
imponderable  agents,  heat,  light,  and  electricity ;  and  as 
I  am  at  this  moment  correcting  the  sheets  of  my 
"  Conversations  on  Chemistry  "  for  a  new  edition,  might 
I  take  the  liberty  of  begging  you  would  inform  me 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  205 

;  where  I  could  obtain  a  correct  account  of  this  dis-     1845. 
covery  ?     It  is,  I  fear,  of  too  abstruse  a  nature  to  be    ^ET.  54. 
adapted  to  ray  young  pupils ;  yet  I  cannot  make  up 
my  mind  to  publish  a   new  edition  without  making 
mention  of  it ;  I  have,  therefore,  kept  back  the  proof 
sheets  of  the  "  Conversation  on  Electricity,"  which  I  was 
this  morning  revising,  until  I  receive  your  answer,  in 
hopes  of  being  able  to  introduce  it  in  that  sheet. 
4  Believe  me,  dear  Mr.  Faraday,  very  truly  yours, 

1  JANE  MARCET.' 

The  'AthenaBum,'  November  8,  1845,  said: — 

c  Mr.  Faraday,  on  Monday  (November  3),  announced 
at  a  meeting  of  the  council  of  the  Eoyal  Institution  a 
very  remarkable  discovery,  which  appears  to  connect 
the  imponderable  agencies  yet  closer  together,  if  it 
does  not  indeed  prove  that  light,  heat,  and  elec- 
tricity are  merely  modifications  of  one  great  universal 
principle.' 

The  minutes  of  the  general  monthly  meeting  E.I. 
November  3,  1845,  are  these  : — 

'  Mr.  Faraday  communicated  to  the  meeting  the  re- 
sults of  some  recent  researches  on  the  correlation  of 
magnetism  and  light.' 

This  year  he  was  made  Corresponding  Member  of 
the  National  Institute,  Washington ;  and  of  the  Societe 
d'Encouragement,  Paris. 

III. 

He  shows  something  of  his  nature  at  this  time  in  a 
few  letters,  and  in  a  journal  which  he  kept  during  a 
tour  in  France.  He  went  partly  to  inspect  the  French 


206  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY, 

1845.     lighthouses,   partly   to   be  admitted   into  the   French 
JEn.  54.    Academy.     He   was    away   three    weeks,    with   Mrs. 

Faraday  and  Mr.  G.  Barnard. 

A  glimpse  of  his  affection  to  his  early  friend  Hux- 

table  here  once  more  occurs  : — 

FAEADAY   TO   HUXTABLE. 

'Royal  Institution  :  June  11,  1845. 

'  Dear  Huxtable, — I  intended  to  have  seen  you 
before  this,  but  am  somewhat  held  at  home  by  an 
invalid  friend,  so  that  I  have  not  been  able.  But  I  can- 
not longer  refrain  from  sympathising  deeply  with  your 
grief  in  your  loss.  I  heard  of  it  on  Friday  evening, 
and  it  came  on  me  very  suddenly,  for  I  had  not  thought 
of  such  an  end,  at  least  as  yet.  But  in  life  we  are  in 
death,  and  these  things  ought  never  to  be  altogether 
away  from  our  thoughts.  If  occasion  serves  (otherwise 
do  not  trouble  yourself),  express  my  sorrow  to  the 
members  of  your  family,  for  though  circumstances  have 
made  it  long  since  I  have  seen'  them,  I  know  that  all 
were  and  are  bound  together  by  the  most  affectionate 
ties,  and  that  they  will  greatly  feel  this  deprivation. 

'  Ever,  dear  Huxtable,  yours  truly, 

'M.  FAEADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO   PBOFESSOE  AUG.    DE    LA   EIVE. 

1  Brighton  :  December  4,  1845. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — Your  letter,  which  I  received  this 
morning,  was  a  very  great  gratification  to  me,  not  more 
for  the  approbation  which  it  conveyed  than  for  the 
kindness  with  which  I  know  it  is  accompanied.  I  count 
upon  you  as  one  of  those  whose  free  hearts  have  pleasure 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  207 

in  my  success,  and  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  it.     I      1845. 
have  had  your  last  letter  by  me  on  my  desk  for  several    JET.  54. 
weeks,  intending  to  answer  it ;  but  absolutely  I  have  not 
been  able,  for  of  late  I  have  shut  myself  up  in  my 
laboratory  and  wrought,  to  the  exclusion  of  everything 
else.    I  heard  afterwards  that  even  your  brother  had 
called  on  one  of  these  days  and  been  excluded. 

'  Well,  a  part  of  this  result  is  that  which  you  have 
heard,  and  my  paper  was  read  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  I 
believe,  last  Thursday,  for  I  was  not  there  ;  and  I  also 
understand  there  have  been  notices  in  the  "  Athenseum," 
but  I  have  not  had  time  to  see  them,  and  I  do  not  know 
how  they  are  done.  However,  I  can  refer  you  to  the 
"  Times  "  of  last  Saturday  (November  29th)  for  a  very 
good  abstract  of  the  paper.  I  do  not  know  who  put  it 
in,  but  it  is  well  done  though  brief.  To  that  account, 
therefore,  I  will  refer  you. 

'  For  I  am  still  so  involved  in  discovery  that  I  have 
hardly  time  for  my  meals,  and  am  here  at  Brighton  both 
to  refresh  and  work  my  head  at  once,  and  I  feel  that 
unless  I  had  been  here,  and  been  careful,  I  could  not 
have  continued  my  labours.  The  consequence  has 
been  that  last  Monday  I  announced  to  our  members  at 
the  Koyal  Institution  another  discovery,  of  which  I  will 
give  you  the  pith  in  a  few  words.  The  paper  will  go  to 
the  Eoyal  Society  next  week,  and  probably  be  read  as 
shortly  after  as  they  can  there  find  it  convenient. 

1  Many  years  ago  I  worked  upon  optical  glass,  and 
made  a  vitreous  compound  of  silica,  boracic  acid,  and 
lead,  which  I  will  now  call  heavy  glass,  and  which 
Amid  uses  in  some  of  his  microscopes  ;  and  it  was  this 
substance  which  enabled  me  first  to  act  on  light  by 
magnetic  and  electric  forces.  Now  if  a  square  bar  of 


208  LIFE   OF   FABADAY. 

1845.  this  substance,  about  half  an  inch  thick  and  two  inches 
JET.  54.  long,  be  very  freely  suspended  between  the  poles  of  a 
powerful  horse-shoe  electro-magnet,  immediately  that 
the  magnetic  force  is  developed,  the  bar  points ;  but  it 
does  not  point  from  pole  to  pole,  but  equatorially  or 
across  the  magnetic  lines  of  force,  i.e.  east  and  west  in 
respect  of  the  north  and  south  poles.  If  it  be  moved 
from  this  position  it  returns  to  it,  and  this  continues  as 
long  as  the  magnetic  force  is  in  action.  This  effect  is 
the  result  of  a  still  simpler  action  of  the  magnet  on  the 
bar  than  what  appears  by  the  experiment,  and  which 
may  be  obtained  at  a  single  magnetic  pole.  For  if  a 
cubical  or  rounded  piece  of  the  glass  be  suspended  by 
a  fine  thread  six  or  eight  feet  long,  and  allowed  to 
hang  very  near  a  strong  magneto-electric  pole  (not  as 
yet  made  active),  then  on  rendering  the  pole  magnetic, 
the  glass  will  be  repelled  and  continue  repelled  until 
the  magnetism  ceases.  This  effect  or  power  I  have 
worked  out  through  a  great  number  of  its  forms  and 
strange  consequences,  and  they  will  occupy  two  series  of 
the  "  Experimental  Eesearches."  It  belongs  to  all  matter 
(not  magnetic,  as  iron),  without  exception,  so  that  every 
substance  belongs  to  the  one  or  the  other  class — mag- 
netic or  diamagnetic  bodies.  The  law  of  action  in  its 
simple  form  is  that  such  matter  tends  to  go  from  strong 
to  weak  points  of  magnetic  force,  and  in  doing  this  the 
substance  will  go  in  either  direction  along  the  magnetic 
curves  or  in  either  direction  across  them.  It  is  curious 
that  amongst  the  metals  are  found  bodies  possessing 
this  property  in  as  high  a  degree  as  perhaps  any  other 
substance.  In  fact,  I  do  not  know  at  present  whether 
heavy  glass,  or  bismuth,  or  phosphorus  is  the  most 
striking  in  this  respect.  I  have  very  little  doubt  that 


LETTERS    DURING    HIS    LATTER   RESEARCHES.  209 

you  have  an  electro-magnet  strong  enough  to  enable  1845. 
you  to  verify  the  chief  facts  of  pointing  equatorially  j£r7&^ 
and  repulsion,  if  you  will  use  bismuth  carefully  examined 
as  to  its  freedom  from  magnetism,  and  making  of  it 
a  bar  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  and  one-third  or  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch  wide.  Let  me,  however,  ask  the  favour 
of  your  keeping  this  fact  to  yourself  for  two  or  three 
weeks,  and  preserving  the  date  of  this  letter  as  a  record. 
I  ought  (in  order  to  preserve  the  respect  due  to  the 
Royal  Society)  not  to  write  a  description  to  any  one 
until  the  paper  has  been  received  or  even  read  there. 
After  three  weeks  or  a  month,  I  think  you  may  use  it, 
guarding,  as  I  am  sure  you  will  do,  my  right.  And  now, 
my  dear  friend,  I  must  conclude,  and  hasten  to  work 
again.  But  first  give  my  kindest  respects  to  Madame 
de  la  Rive,  and  many  thanks  to  your  brother  for  his  call. 
'  Ever  your  obedient  and  affectionate  friend, 

'  M,  FARADAY.' 

To  Professor  Wheatstone,  who  told  him  of  Becquerel's 
researches  on  the  magnetic  condition  of  all  matter, 
Faraday  writes  : — 

FARADAY   TO    C.    WHEATSTONE,    ESQ. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  Friday  night,  December  5,  1845. 

c  Many  thanks,  my  dear  Wheatstone,  for  your  note. 
I  have  in  consequence  seen  Becquerel's  paper,  and 
added  a  note  at  the  first  opening  of  my  paper.  It  is 
astonishing  to  think  how  he  could  have  been  so  near 
the  discovery  of  the  great  principle  and  fact,  and  yet 
so  entirely  miss  them  both,  and  fall  back  into  old  and 
preconceived  notions. 

*  Ever  truly  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY. 

VOL.  II.  P 


210  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.         A  few  extracts  from  his  French  Journal  will  show 
Mr.  53.    what  he  was  at  this  time. 

Monday,  July  7th. — Left  London  by  Folkestone 
train  at  eight  o'clock. 

July  ~LQth. — Fecamp.  On  the  pier  is  a  small  harbour 
light,  fourth-class  of  Fresnel,  to  indicate  the  height  of 
the  tide.  On  the  height  above  is  the  chief  lighthouse, 
first-class  Fresnel.  It  is  a  stone  tower  with  the  stair- 
case inside,  and  the  dwellings  of  the  keepers  at  the 
bottom  arranged  about  it. 

Then  he  gives  a  full  description  of  it  and  its  arrange- 
ment. 

After  leaving  the  lighthouse,  which  we  did  in  very 
bad,  rainy  weather,  we  continued  our  way  in  the 
cabriolet  towards  Etritat,  over  a  road  which  so  jolted 
and  tossed  us  about  that  not  only  did  it  occasion  many 
strange  similes  and  figures  of  speech,  but  stirred  up  my 
bad  memory,  so  that  I  think  I  shall  not  easily  forget  it. 

Etritat.  This  is  a  very  curious  place.  Whilst  waiting 
for  our  meal,  there  was  much  bustle  amongst  the  women, 
and  on  stepping  out  from  between  a  number  of  boats 
thatched  over  on  the  shore,  we  found  that  the  fishing 
boats  were  in  the  act  of  arriving,  and  were  being  drawn 
up  a  steep  shingle  beach  by  cables  and  capstans  on 
shore,  the  latter  being  most  actively  manned  by  women. 
They  seemed  thoroughly  well  to  understand  what  they 
were  about,  and  the  boats  were  soon  hauled  up  ;  as 
many  as  six  capstans,  each  with  sixteen  or  twenty 
persons,  chiefly  women,  going  at  once.  Then  came  the 
cargo,  chiefly  mackerel,  and  very  fine ;  there  were  the 
douane  officers  moving  about  to  see  that  no  smuggling 
was  in  hand.  How  the  fish  was  disposed  of  I  cannot 


THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.     211 

tell,  but  in  a  very  short  time  it  was  in  the  yard  of  our  1845. 
inn,  and  as  many  as  fifteen  or  sixteen  persons  were  j&r.  53. 
engaged  in  washing  it  and  packing  it  in  little  baskets, 
each  holding  from  sixteen  to  twenty,  curiously  curved 
in  on  purpose,  and  then  neatly  covered  over  and  tied 
up  with  very  clean  straw  and  string,  in  a  peculiarly  tech- 
nical manner.  Whether  there  were  near  to  one  hundred 
or  two  hundred  of  these  baskets  I  do  not  know,  but 
suddenly  they  were  all  carefully  packed  in  a  two- 
wheeled  cartwaggon  with  much  straw.  Four  horses 
were  harnessed  to  the  vehicle,  the  master  of  the  inn 
took  his  seat  on  the  top,  and  off  they  set  for  Fecamp. 
How  they  would  bear  the  jolting  that  we  had  had 
before  them,  I  do  not  know.  Two  other  changes  of 
horses,  we  were  told,  would  be  required  in  the  course 
of  the  night  to  carry  them  fast  to  Eouen.  The  object 
was  to  get  them  there  by  six  o'clock  if  possible,  but 
sometimes  they  cannot  get  there  before  seven  o'clock. 
This  difference  of  an  hour  would  make  a  difference  of 
200  francs  in  the  value  of  the  fish. 

Walking  out  again,  I  found  a  number  of  women 
washing  on  the  sea  shore.  The  river  which  runs  down 
the  valley  penetrates  the  shingle  and  chalky  bank  at 
the  valley's  mouth  and  issues  out  from  between  the 
shingles  near  low  water  mark.  So  at  low  water  the 
women  came  with  their  clothes  to  arrange  for  washing. 
For  this  purpose  they  throw  out  the  shingles  where  the 
stream  runs  over  a  space  two  or  three  feet  diameter, 
casting  the  shingles  seaward,  and  so  quickly  make  a 
basin,  and  this  is  filled  with  the  purest  soft  water, 
rapidly  flowing  in  on  the  one  side  and  out  at  the  other. 
Here  they  wash  away,  some  nibbing  with  soap  and 
kneading  the  clothes  on  the  side  shingles,  others  thump- 


212  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  ing  the  wet  things  with  heavy  wooden  bats,  and  others 
MI.  53.  rinsing  out  the  washed  things  in  the  clear  pools  and 
then  spreading  them  out  higher  up  on  the  shingles  to 
dry.  The  women  are  remarkably  well  and  fittingly 
dressed,  and  neat  and  clean  in  their  persons,  especially 
about  the  feet.  I  saw  no  rags  in  wear.  Their  clothing 
is,  externally,  principally  woollen,  excellent  in  shape 
and  fitness,  and  gay  in  colour.  Their  stockings  quite 
clean  and  neat,  and  their  clogs  quite  black.  It  was 
really  a  most  interesting  and  beautiful  sight  to  see 
them  either  at  the  capstans  or  at  the  washing. 

The  rocks  about  here  are  chalky,  very  full  of  flint, 
very  high,  and  the  cliff  presented  extraordinary  cases 
of  natural  arches  and  caverns,  surpassing  in  size  any- 
thing I  recollect  ever  to  have  seen.  The  scale  on 
which  the  strata  break  and  divide  is  enormous.  After 
a  walk  out  towards  the  southern  cliffs  and  amongst  the 
lobster  and  crab  deposits,  I  returned  home,  and  we 
went  to  bed  by  daylight,  i.e.  by  evening  light.  Weather 
bad,  and  has  been  very  unsteady  these  last  two  days. 

Friday,  \\th. — George  and  I  walked  out  before  break- 
fast to  the  southern  side  of  the  little  bay,  and,  it  being 
low  water,  creeped  round  the  point,  and  had  a  fine  view 
of  the  natural  pinnacles  and  arches  beyond.  They  are 
wonderful  in  size.  On  our  return,  breakfasted  very 
well,  and  then  we  all  went  out  to  see  the  women  at 
their  washing  again.  Most  curious.  The  women  here 
have  their  daily  avocations  governed  by  the  tides ; 
for  they  help  to  launch  the  boats  and  to  haul  them  up 
— two  very  chief  occupations  for  the  day,  and  which 
govern  most  of  their  domestic  duties.  And  then  also 
their  own  peculiar  occupation  of  washing  is  of  necessity 
governed  by  the  same  great  natural  phenomenon.  I 


TUE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  213 

asked  the  landlord  what  was  the  time  of  low  water,      1845^ 
and  he  went  to  ask  his  wife,  saying  she  could  tell.  JET.  53. 

Havre.  All  here  looks  like  business.  Yet  even 
here  the  French  do  their  work  with  a  kind  of  gaiety 
which  is  very  agreeable  to  look  at,  and  seems  better 
for  the  spirit  than  that  determinate,  and  I  may  say 
desperate  devotion  to  labour  and  profit,  which  marks 
London  occupation,  and  I  suppose  still  more  American 
exertion.  A  man  may  make  more  money  and  even 
make  his  fortune  quicker  in  the  latter  way,  but  it  is 
very  doubtful  whether  he  is  the  happier  man.  What 
he  gains  in  metal,  I  suspect  he  loses  in  spirit,  and  I 
think  he  loses  on  the  whole. 

Saturday,  \1th. — Here  are  two  large  lighthouses  at 
La  Here,  close  to  Havre,  but  at  present  works  are  in  pro- 
gress there  and  they  are  not  allowed  to  be  seen. 

About  twelve  o'clock  we  left  Havre  by  steamboat 
for  Caen.  As  we  started  from  the  quay,  one  of  the 
men  on  board  took  up  a  tambourine,  and  gave  us,  the 
ship,  and  the  public  the  benefit  of  a  kind  of  roll  with 
certain  fantastic  variations.  To  be  sure,  it  did  not  seem 
quite  in  keeping,  that  a  good  and  powerful  steamship, 
carrying  a  valuable  cargo  of  cotton  and  passengers, 
should  leave  such  a  port  as  Havre  to  the  sound  of  a 
tambourine  ;  neither  was  it  at  all  in  keeping  with  the 
heavy  rolling  and  pitching  which  we  found  outside  the 
harbour ;  but  still  it  was  effect,  though  on  a  very  small 
scale. 

Monday,  14#A. — This  morning,  George  and  I  set  off 
early  by  the  diligence,  leaving  my  wife  at  Caen  in 
the  hotel  for  three  days,  our  object  being  to  pass 
over  the  ground  quickly  to  the  lighthouses  at  Barfleur 
and  Cap  la  Heve.  We  were  in  the  rotonde  or  back 


214  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

^_1845.  part  of  the  diligence  by  six  o'clock,  eight  of  us  being 
Mr.  53.  closely  packed  up  there.  Of  these,  two  were  a  newly 
married  loving  couple,  and  it  was  most  amusing 
(though  the  amusement  was  rather  strong  in  character) 
to  see  their  enjoyment,  especially  that  of  the  lady.  She 
had  by  no  means  a  sentimental  form,  or  face,  or  manners, 
but  such  delight  as  she  seemed  to  find  in  having  a 
husband  was  most  remarkable  proof  of  her  simplicity 
(perhaps).  She  talked  to  a  third  person,  a  young  man,  of 
how  she  liked  to  be  loved.  She  showed  off  her  husband's 
little  watch  and  chain.  She  referred  to  his  budding 
whiskers,  his  promise  of  a  moustache,  and  her  hopes  of  his 
having  a  beard,  handling  the  parts,  and  referring  to  the 
places  and  forms  she  should  like  them  to  have,  in  a  man- 
ner so  illustrative  and  direct  as  to  be  worthy  of  a  lecturer. 
The  two  fed  each  other  with  cherries  and  bread,  and 
after  a  hearty  meal  at  one  place  they  comforted  each 
other  in  the  best  way  they  could  upon  the  occurrence 
of  a  little  indigestion.  The  young  man  seemed  rather 
ashamed  now  and  then,  and  by  an  appearance  of  sleep 
gave  some  intimations,  if  not  to  his  wife,  at  least  to 
others ;  but  it  would  not  do,  and  he  gave  way  very 
good-hurnouredly  to  his  bien  aime.  We  breakfasted 
at  St.  Lo,  a  beautiful  place  ;  and  still  further  on,  left  the 
diligence  at  Valogne,  and  after  a  while  proceeded  on 
our  way  in  a  cabriolet. 

The  women's  caps  here  are  wonderful.  We  saw  in 
the  course  of  the  day  some  more  and  more  wonderful, 
but  at  Yalogne  came  the  finest  and  largest  of  ah1.  It 
was  on  the  top  of  a  rich  woman,  as  the  hostess  told 
us,  who  actually  had  her  carriage  there,  and  was 
moving  about  the  town  buying  in  things.  As  she 
came  along  the  street,  its  height,  and  stiffness,  and  ex- 


THE   LATIER   PERIOD   OP   HIS  EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  215 

pansion,  and  the  wind,  actually  brought  her  up.     She      1845. 
had  to  clap  her  hands  to  her  head  and  stand  still  for  a  ^^TsaT 
while,  after  which,  by  a  series  of  tacks,  she  came  up  to 
and  into  the  little  cafe  where  we  were.     The  cap  was 
handsome  in  materials  and  ornamented  with  coloured 
ribbon,  which  is  not  usual. 

During  our  ride  (to  Barfleur)  we  saw  abundance  of 
that  charming  luminary,  the  glowworm.  The  driver 
called  it  the  '  night  worm.' 

The  lighthouse  is  situated  on  a  rock,  and  is  connected 
by  a  granite  causeway  with  the  land,  but  in  rough 
weather  and  at  high  tide  the  sea  makes  a  clean  breach 
over  this  and  the  rocks.  (Then  he  describes  it  fully.) 


Cap  la  Heve.  There  at  (Andeman)  the  land's  end 
and  corner,  we  found  rocky  country,  a  curious  little 
fisherman's  bay,  a  perfectly  clear  water,  a  tumbling  sea, 
rough  men,  and  a  lighthouse  on  a  rock  in  the  sea 
about  a  mile  out  from  shore,  and  looking  beautifully  in 
the  declining  sunbeams.  A  boat  and  three  men  took  us 
to  the  rock,  on  which,  with  some  care  and  trouble,  we 
landed,  and  then  the  boat  pushed  off,  to  prevent  her  from 
being  knocked  to  pieces  by  the  vigorous  waves,  for  here 
they  leaped  about  in  every  direction.  (Then  he  describes 
the  lighthouse.) 

We  returned  to  Cherbourg  by  ten. 

July  l&th,  Friday. — Honfleur,  Eouen.  Entered  a 
steamboat  at  seven  o'clock,  and  went  up  the  Seine, 
with  a  beautiful  morning  and  beautiful  scenery.  The 
tide  was  up,  so  that  all  seemed  perfection.  The  water 
appeared  to  bathe  the  feet  of  the  trees.  The  hills 
are  chalk,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river  the  cliffs 


216  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  assume  beautiful  varieties  of  form,  the  green  verdure  of 
JET!  53.  the  sides  intermingling  delightfully  with  the  white 
surface  of  fractures. 

Arrived  at  Eouen,  which  appeared  in  its  glory. 

Saturday,  19^/i. — Have  had  a  good  night's  rest,  but 
was  wakened  up  by  a  great  talking  in  the  street  below,  at 
an  early  hour,  and  found  it  was  a  company  of  sweepers 
about  thirty  in  number,  who  were  busy  cleaning  the 
streets,  and  talking  together  most  vigorously.  The  con- 
tinued talk  and  chatter  of  people  together  when  they 
are  at  work,  whether  in  the  house,  or  in  the  street,  or 
in  the  air,  as  upon  some  of  the  cathedral  scaffolds,  is 
quite  remarkable.  They  must  be  a  very  thinking  race 
to  have  so  much  to  say, 

July  22nd.—  Paris.  Went  to  the  Post  Office,  and  the 
bonnet  shop.  It  takes  a  good  while  to  go  about  this  large 
city.  George  and  I  wanted  hats,  and  seeing  a  shop  with 
a  good  number  to  choose  from,  which  we  had  not  seen 
before,  went  in  and  had  begun  a  process  of  purchasing 
chapeaux  d  occasion  before  we  discovered  what  occa- 
sion meant.  Finding  they  were  second-hand,  we  were 
happy  to  be  able  to  retreat  as  we  entered. 

Went  to  the  Observatory,  and  found  M.  Arago,  who 
was  very  kind  and  pleasant.  I  find  that  the  meeting 
of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  was  yesterday,  and  that 
because  of  the  July  fetes  there  will  not  be  another  until 
Wednesday  (30th),  which  is  very  awkward  for  me,  for  I 
wanted  to  have  left  Paris  on  the  Monday.  Many  things 
are  deranged  by  the  preparation  for  this  fete. 

Wednesday,  23rd. — Found  Chevreul  at  the  Jardin  des 
Plantes,  and  had  a  long  chat.  Dumas  not  there. 
Returned,  and  found  Dumas  at  our  hotel.  He  dined 
with  us,  and  afterwards  I  went  with  him  to  the  Society 


THE   LATTER    PERIOD    OF    HIS  EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  217 

of  Encouragement,  of  which  he  took  the  chair,  and  I     1845. 
was  made  a  member.  JE.T.  53. 

Thursday,  24ith. — Bought  some  portraits.  Went  to 
Observatory  to  hear  Arago  give  an  astronomical  lecture. 
He  delivered  it  in  an  admirable  manner  to  a  crowded 
audience.  Its  object  was  to  prove  that  the  sun  was  the 
centre  of  the  solar  system,  and  to  illustrate  and  prove  the 
necessity  of  time  in  the  passage  of  light,  using  for  that 
purpose  the  phenomena  of  the  eclipses  of  Jupiter's  satel- 
lites. From  thence  went  to  Dumas'  house  at  the  Jardin 
des  Plantes.  Dined  at  Dumas'  house.  Dumas  and  I 
went  to  M.  Milne  Edwards. 

Friday,  2ath. — Went  out  and  called  on  Biot,  who 
appears  to  age,  but  was  very  cheerful. 

Monday,  2Sth. — Went  to  Mr.  Henry  Laponte,  and  had 
a  very  pleasant  conversation  with  him  about  the  light- 
house apparatus.  Arranged  to  go  to  the  manufactory 
on  Wednesday  morning,  for  the  fete  to-morrow  inter- 
feres with  everything.  Called  on  and  saw  Peltier. 
Called  at  the  Conservatoire  des  Arts  et  Metiers,  but 
Pouilliet  and  Payen  not  at  home.  Went  to  Dumas 
at  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  ;  found  all  at  home  ;  they  form 
a  very  pleasant  family.  Went  to  the  Observatory,  and 
found  Arago,  who  has  called  twice  on  us,  and,  moreover, 
has  obtained  tickets  for  us  for  special  seats  to  see  the 
fete  on  the  Seine  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  fireworks 
at  the  Invalides  in  the  evening.  Called  also  on  M.  L. 
Fresnel  (who  has  called  on  us),  and,  finding  him  at  home, 
had  a  long  talk  with  him.  He  is  to  meet  us  at  the 
shops  of  M.  Laponte  on  Wednesday. 

At  half  past  seven  o'clock  we  went  to  the  Sorbonne 
to  see  some  very  beautiful  experiments  on  the  appli- 


218  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.     cation  of  the  voltaic  light   to  the  solar  microscope. 
lEhTasT  The  battery  consisted  of  seventy-two  pairs  of  Bunsen's 
plates. 

Tuesday,  29th. — In  the  evening  we  all  went  to  a 
station  (having  tickets  for  it  from  M.  Arago)  to  see  the 
illuminations  on  the  river  and  the  bridges,  and  also  the 
fireworks.  All  went  on  well,  and  as  daylight  decreased 
the  illuminations  became  beautiful.  Boats  floated  about 
the  river,  all  illuminated  with  lamps  and  lanthorns,  and 
at  last  the  fireworks  began.  Stars  innumerable  shot 
up  from  all  parts  of  the  river,  and  the  effect  gradually 
increased  by  the  inflammation  of  pieces  more  and 
more  large  and  powerful ;  concluding  at  last  with  such 
bursts  of  rockets,  mines,  &c.,  as  I  think  equal  those  I 
saw  at  Rome  on  the  occasion  of  the  Pope's  return  to 
it.  There  appeared  to  be  no  accidents,  and  there  was 
no  uncomfortable  crowding.  Great  precautions  had 
been  taken,  for  last  year  several  deaths  occurred  from 
pressure  in  the  narrow  streets.  Soldiers  were  about 
everywhere,  both  horse  and  foot.  It  is  a  curious  fea- 
ture to  see  the  necessity  for  such  precautions  even  in 
the  midst  of  a  holiday  founded  in  commemoration  of  a 
successful  revolution. 

Wednesday,  30^. — Went  to  Mr.  H.  Laponte,  at  his 
workshops.  He  now  both  makes  the  optical  and  the 
mechanical  part,  and  his  workshops  and  apparatus  are 
excellent,  far  surpassing  anything  we  have  in  England. 
He  had  several  of  his  lamps  and  apparatus  in  order. 
In  the  lamps  colza  oil  is  used,  and  they  were  all  burn- 
ing well,  and,  except  one,  without  any  sensible  smoke. 
He  was  most  kind  in  his  attentions. 

M.  Fresnel  did  not  arrive,  and  therefore  I  could 


THE    LATTER    PERIOD    OF    HIS  EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  219 

not  have  my  difficulty  about  the  expression  of  the  1845. 
power  of  the  light  solved,  but  we  made  some  experi-  JET.  53. 
ments,  and  I  saw  the  mode,  at  all  events. 

Next  we  went  to  the  well  of  Grenelle.  The  well  is 
a  wonderful  work,  penetrating  1,700  feet  downwards 
into  the  earth,  and  rising  100  feet  above  it.  We  as- 
cended the  scaffold,  and  saw  the  water  flowing  up 
majestically  through  the  pipe,  and,  after  being  measured, 
passing  away  down  another  pipe  to  the  district  of  Paris 
about  the  Pantheon,  which  is  the  highest  ground.  And 
then  to  put  one's  hand  in  the  water  and  feel  it  warm, 
and  so  to  become  really  conscious  that  that  clear  black 
welling  fluid,  which  is  for  ever  silently  flowing  towards 
us,  is  bringing  with  it  heat  from  the  inner  parts  of  the 
earth.  It  is  very  wonderful. 

The  view  of  Paris  is  very  fine  here. 

From  thence  we  went  to  the  water- works  at  Chaillot, 
where  an  old  steam  engine  of  80  horse-power  draws 
water  from  the  Seine  and  lifts  it  into  reservoirs,  from 
whence  it  runs  to  supply  certain  fountains  in  the 
gardens  of  the  Tuileries  and  also  certain  parts  of 
Paris.  The  engine  has  an  enormous  beam  of  wood, 
is  very  ancient  in  its  appearance,  and  is,  I  believe,  the 
first  condensing  engine  which  was  made  in  France. 

After  this,  went  home  for  a  while,  and  then  to  the 
Institute,  to  the  sitting  which,  because  of  the  fete 
yesterday,  is  held  to-day  instead  of  last  Monday. 
Many  of  the  members  were  gone  out  of  town,  but  all 
that  were  there  received  me  very  kindly.  I  was  glad  to 
see  Thenard,  Dupuis,  Flourens,  Biot,  Dumas  of  course, 
and  Arago,  Elie  de  Beaumont,  Poinsot,  Babinet,  and  a 
great  many  others  whose  names  and  faces  sadly  em- 


220  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1845.  barrassed  my  poor  head  and  memory.  Chatting  together, 
"^EhTssT  Arago  told  me  he  was  my  senior,  being  born  in  1780, 
and  consequently  59  years  of  age. 

Friday,  August  1st. — Had  a  beautiful  evening  pas- 
sage across  the  Channel  to  Folkestone.  In  the  passage 
saw  the  lights  at  Cape  Grinez  on  the  French  coast,  and 
those  at  the  South  Foreland  and  also  at  Dungeness  on 
the  English  land.  In  this  part  of  the  Channel  the 
French  lights  revolve  and  the  English  lights  are  fixed. 
The  light  at  Cape  Grinez  was  very  fine  in  its  effect,  and 
the  flashes  beautiful.  It  is  one  of  the  first  order. 
Fresnel's  construction.  Of  the  two  lights  at  the  South 
Foreland  the  lower  was  in  some  positions  the  best,  and 
in  other  positions  it  was  the  upper  that  excelled.  The 
captain  of  the  steamer  thought  that  upon  the  whole 
the  upper  was  the  better  light.  The  Dungeness  light 
was  feeble  by  comparison  with  the  others,  but  this  is  in 
a  great  measure  due  to  its  low  altitude  and  position. 

Saturday,  2nd. — By  two  o'clock  or  soon  after  were 
at  home  in  the  Institution,  where  we  felt  we  ought  to 
be.  We  left  George  at  the  London  Bridge  station. 
Thanks  be  to  him  for  all  his  kind  care  and  attention  on 
the  journey,  which  is  better  worth  remembering  than 
anything  else  of  all  that  occurred  in  it. 

I. 

But  little  original  research  was  done  in  1846  and 
1847. 

The  experiments  in  the  laboratory  in  184G  were 
chiefly  with  regard  to  the  action  of  magnetism  on  a 
polarised  ray  of  light.  At  the  end  of  the  year  a 
number  of  experiments  were  made  on  the  purity  of  ice. 

He  published,  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine,'  his 


THE    LATTEE    PERIOD   OF   HIS    EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  221 

thoughts  on  ray  vibrations,  and  on  the  magnetic  affec-     1846. 
tion  of  light ;  and  in  the   '  Bibliotheque  Universelle,'  MT.M-OG. 
letters  to  MM.  de  la  Eive  and  Dumas,  on  the  influence 
of  magnetism  on  light. 

In  1847,  but  little  laboratory  work  was  done  until 
the  middle  of  October.  Some  experiments  were  made 
on  the  purity  of  ice,  and  some  on  the  action  of  magnetism 
upon  light,  and  on  the  decomposition  by  electricity  of 
the  iodide  of  nitrogen  ;  but  no  important  results  were 
obtained.  At  the  end  of  the  year  the  results  of  his  ex- 
periments on  the  diamagnetic  conditions  of  flame  and 
gases  were  sent  to  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine.'  The 
discovery  had  been  made  by  Bancalari,  Professor  at 
Genoa.  Faraday  says,  '  I  scarcely  know  how  I  could 
have  failed  to  observe  the  effect  years  ago.'  The  experi- 
ments were  extended,  and  differential  actions  examined, 
and  he  considered  that  he  announced  the  discovery  of 
the  magnetic  property  of  oxygen  when  he  wrote  :  '  The 
attraction  of  iron  filings  to  a  magnetic  pole  is  not  more 
striking  than  the  appearance  presented  by  the  oxygen 
in  coal-gas.'  In  consequence  of  the  great  difference  in 
respect  of  the  magnetic  relation  between  oxygen  and 
nitrogen,  he  attempted  to  separate  air  by  magnetic 
force  alone  into  its  chief  constituents. 

He  had  a  paper  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine  '  on 
the  diamagnetic  conditions  of  flame ;  and  in  the  Eeport 
of  the  British  Association  he  published  a  discourse  on 
the  magnetic  condition  of  matter. 

For  the  Institution,  in  the  spring  of  1846,  he  gave  a 
course  of  eight  lectures  on  electricity  and  magnetism, 
their  differences  and  their  unity.  In  his  fifth  lecture  he 
said  of  Oersted's  discovery  of  the  magnetic  influence 
of  electricity  in  motion,  '  It  burst  open  the  gates  of  a 


222  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

3846.     domain  in  science,  dark  until  then,  and  filled  it  with  a 
^64^66.  flood  of  light.'     He  might  have  used  the  same  words 
regarding  his  own  discovery  of  magneto-electricity. 

Early  in  the  year  he  gave  a  Friday  discourse  on  the 
relation  of  magnetism  and  light.  In  his  last  note  for 
this  lecture  he  writes,  '  Perhaps  hereafter  obtain  mag- 
netism from  light.'  He  gave  another  on  the  magnetic 
condition  of  matter ;  and,  later  in  the  season,  another 
on  Wheatstone's  electro-magnetic  chronoscope,  at  the 
end  of  which  he  said  he  was '  induced  to  utter  a  specu- 
lation long  on  his  mind,  and  constantly  gaining  strength 
— viz.,  that  perhaps  those  vibrations  by  which  radiant 
agencies,  such  as  light,  heat,  actinic  influence,  &c., 
convey  this  force  through  space,  are  not  vibrations  of 
an  ether,  but  of  the  lines  of  force  which,  in  this  view, 
equally  connect  the  most  distant  masses  together,  and 
make  the  smallest  atoms  or  particles  by  their  properties 
influential  on  each  other  and  perceptible  to  us  ; '  and  in 
his  notes  he  says,  *  so  incline  to  dismiss  the  ether.'  A 
little  later  he  sends  these  views  to  the  *  Philosophical 
Magazine  '  as  thoughts  on  ray  vibrations  :  *  But,  from 
first  to  last,  understand  that  I  merely  throw  out,  as 
matter  for  speculation,  the  vague  impressions  of  my 
mind ;  for  I  give  nothing  as  the  result  of  sufficient 
consideration,  or  as  the  settled  conviction,  or  even 
probable  conclusion,  at  which  I  had  arrived.'  His  last 
Friday  discourse  was  on  the  cohesive  force  of  water. 

To  the  Secretary  of  the  Institution,  who  consulted 
him  regarding  evening  lectures,  he  said  :  '  I  see  no 
objection  to  evening  lectures  if  you  can  find  a  fit  man 
to  give  them.  As  to  popular  lectures  (which  at  the 
same  time  are  to  be  respectable  and  sound),  none  are 
more  difficult  to  find.  Lectures  which  really  teach  will 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD  OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  223 

never  be  popular ;  lectures  which  are  popular  will  1846-47. 
never  really  teach.  They  know  little  of  the  matter  ^x.54-56. 
who  think  science  is  more  easily  to  be  taught  or  learned 
than  ABC;  and  yet  who  ever  learned  his  ABC 
without  pain  and  trouble?  Still  lectures  can  (gene- 
rally) inform  the  mind,  and  show  forth  to  the  attentive 
man  what  he  really  has  to  learn,  and  in  their  way  are 
very  useful,  especially  to  the  public.  I  think  they 
might  be  useful  to  us  now,  even  if  they  only  gave  an 
answer  to  those  who,  judging  by  their  own  earnest 
desire  to  learn,  think  much  of  them.  As  to  agricultural 
chemistry,  it  is  no  doubt  an  excellent  and  a  popular 
subject,  but  I  rather  suspect  that  those  who  know  least 
of  it  think  that  most  is  known  about  it.' 

In  1847,  for  the  Institution,  after  Easter,  he  gave  a 
course  of  eight  lectures  on  physico-chemical  philosophy. 

In  his  first  lecture,  speaking  of  oxygen,  he  says : 
'  It  is,  perhaps,  most  directly  among  secondary  causes, 
that  substance  by  which  we  live,  and  move,  and  have 
our  being.'  And  in  his  second  lecture  he  says  :  '  It  may 
move  attention  to  point  out  that  we  ourselves  are  cases 
of  instant  (constant)  action,  either  whilst  in  life  or  after 
death.  What  is  our  constant  breathing  for,  but  to 
supply  a  substance  which,  performing  at  the  instant  its 
chemical  duty,  has  then  to  be  removed  and  replaced  by 
more  ?  What  is  our  food  for,  but  to  supply  by  a  series 
of  instant  chemical  changes  the  other  acting  substance 
in  a  fit  state,  and  at  the  fitting  place  for  this  action  to 
go  on  ?  What  is  our  death  and  dispersion  to  the 
elements  but  the  results  of  the  action  of  that  chemical 
force  amongst  the  materials  of  our  body  and  circum- 
jacent matter  which  succeeds  to  the  previous  living 
chemistry  so  soon  as  the  breath  of  our  nostrils  is 


224  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1846-47.  stopped?     Guard  against  the  supposition  that  this  is 
^Ex.54-56.  all ;  but  we  have  a  right  to  show  how  much  it  is.' 

He  ended  this  course  of  lectures  thus  :  *  In  conclu- 
sion, I  may  remark  that,  whilst  considering  the  state 
and  condition  of  the  powers  with  which  matter  is 
endowed,  we  cannot  shut  out  from  our  thoughts  the 
consequences  as  far  as  they  are  manifested  to  us,  for 
we  find  them  always  for  our  good ;  neither  ought  we 
to  do  so,  for  that  would  be  to  make  philosophy  barren 
as  to  its  true  fruits.  And  when  we  think  of  the  way 
in  which  heat  and  cohesive  force  are  related  to  each 
other,  and  learn  also  that  the  sun  is  continually  giving 
to  the  surface  of  this  globe  of  ours  warmth  equal  to 
the  combustion  of  sixty  sacks  of  coals  in  twelve  hours 
on  each  acre  of  surface  in  this  climate  in  the  average  of 
the  year ;  and  find  that  of  the  bodies  thus  heated, 
those  which  ought  to  remain  solid  are  so  circumstanced 
that  they  do  remain  solid  ;  and  those  which,  like  oxygen 
and  nitrogen,  in  our  atmosphere  ought  to  remain  gaseous 
do  remain  gaseous ;  when  we  find,  moreover,  that 
wonderful  substance,  water,  assuming  under  the  same 
influence  the  solid,  the  fluid,  and  the  gaseous  states  at 
natural  temperatures,  and  so  circulating  through  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  ever  in  its  best  form  ;  and  per- 
ceive that  all  this  is  done  by  virtue  of  powers  in  the 
molecules  which  are  indestructible,  and  by  laws  of 
action  the  most  simple  and  unchangeable,  we  may 
well,  if  I  may  say  it  without  irreverence,  join  awe  and 
trembling  with  joy  and  gladness. 

'  Our  philosophy,  feeble  as  it  is,  gives  us  to  see  in 
every  particle  of  matter,  a  centre  of  force  reaching  to 
an  infinite  distance,  binding  worlds  and  suns  together, 
and  unchangeable  in  its  permanency.  Around  this 


THE    LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  225 

same  particle  we  see  grouped  the  powers  of  all  the  1846-47. 
various  phenomena  of  nature :  the  heat,  the  cold,  the  ^T.54-56. 
wind,  the  storm,  the  awful  conflagration,  the  vivid 
lightning  flash,  the  stability  of  the  rock  and  the  moun- 
tain, the  grand  mobility  of  the  ocean,  with  its  mighty 
tidal  wave  sweeping  round  the  globe  in  its  diurnal 
journey,  the  dancing  of  the  stream  and  the  torrent ; 
the  glorious  cloud,  the  soft  dew,  the  rain  dropping 
fatness,  the  harmonious  working  of  all  these  forces  in 
nature,  until  at  last  the  molecule  rises  up  in  accordance 
with  the  mighty  purpose  ordained  for  it,  and  plays  its 
part  in  the  gift  of  life  itself.  And  therefore  our 
philosophy,  whilst  it  shows  us  these  things,  should 
lead  us  to  think  of  Him  who  hath  wrought  them ;  for 
it  is  said  by  an  authority  far  above  even  that  which 
these  works  present,  that  "  the  invisible  things  of  Him 
from  the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are  made,  even  His 
eternal  power  and  Godhead."  ' 

He  gave  Friday  evenings  on  the  combustion  of  gun- 
powder ;  on  Mr.  Barry's  mode  of  ventilating  the  new 
House  of  Lords;  and  on  the  steam-jet  chiefly  as  a 
means  of  procuring  ventilation. 

For  the  Trinity  House  he  did  little  work  during 
these  years. 

He  reported,  in  1846,  on  the  drinking-water  of  the 
Smalls  Lighthouse,  and  on  a  ventilation  apparatus  for 
rape-oil  lamps. 

He  reported,  in  1847,  on  the  ventilation  of  the  South 
Foreland  lights,  and  on  a  proposal  to  light  buoys  by 
platinum  wire  ignited  by  electricity. 


VOL.  II. 


226  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 

1846-47. 

J3T.54-56. 

In  1846,  for  his  two  great  discoveries,  the  Eumford 
and  the  Eoyal  Medals  were  both  awarded  to  him. 
This  double  honour  will  probably  long  be  unique  in 
the  annals  of  the  Eoyal  Society.  In  former  years  he 
had  already  received  the  Copley  and  Eoyal  Medals  for 
his  experimental  discoveries.  As  his  medals  increased 
it  became  remarkable  that  he — who  kept  his  diploma- 
book,  his  portraits  and  letters  of  scientific  men,  and 
everything  he  had  in  the  most  perfect  order — seemed 
to  take  least  care  of  his  most  valuable  rewards.  They 
were  locked  up  in  a  box,  and  might  have  passed  for 
old  iron.  Probably  he  thought,  as  others  did  after- 
wards, that  their  value,  if  seen,  might  lead  to  their  loss. 
He  was  made  Honorary  Member  of  the  Vaud  Society 
of  Sciences. 

In  1847  he  was  made  member  of  the  Academy  of 
Sciences,  Bologna  ;  Foreign  Associate  of  the  Eoyal 
Academy  of  Sciences,  Belgium ;  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal 
Bavarian  Academy  of  Sciences,  Munich  ;  Correspondent 
of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia. 

III. 

His  character  is  strongly  shown  in  the  letters  he 
wrote  regarding  the  losses  that  happened  in  these  years 
in  his  family ;  also  in  some  letters  on  business  for  the 
Admiralty,  and  in  a  letter  to  M.  Matteucci,  and  another 
to  Professor  Schonbein. 

In  August,  1846,  his  brother,  when  driving,  was 
upset,  and  so  injured  in  the  head  that  he  did  not 
recover  his  consciousness  again.  He  was  taken  to 
University  College  Hospital. 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  227 

Faraday  writes  to  Mrs.  Faraday  at  Tunbridge  Wells  :  1846-47. 

^T.54-56. 
FARADAY  TO   MRS.    FARADAY. 

'  Royal  Institution :  Thursday,  August  13,  1846. 

'  Dear  Heart, — My  brother,  exhausted  by  the  results 
of  the  terrible  accident  which  happened  to  him  on 
Tuesday  night,  died  this  morning  about  seven  o'clock. 
He  had  spent  the  evening  of  Tuesday  at  Mr.  B.'s. 
After  supper,  he  brought  home  my  sister  in  the  cart,  and 
then  proceeded  to  take  the  horse  and  cart  to  the 
stables.  It  is  supposed  the  horse  must  have  been 
frightened,  or  run  against  a  post,  but  the  cart  was  over- 
turned, my  poor  brother  cast  out,  and  so  injured  on 
the  head  as  not  to  recover  his  consciousness  again. 
He  was  taken  to  University  Hospital,  where  I  saw  his 
corpse  this  morning,  and  though  sadly  bruised,  it  was 
just  my  dear  brother. 

'  Come  home,  dear.  Come  and  join  in  the  sympathy 
and  comfort  needed  by  many.  Let  the  establishment 
at  Tunbridge  Wells  go  on,  and  give  my  love  to  father 
and  mother,  and  Margery,  who  will  keep  it  up  for 
a  while  for  us. 

'  My  sister  and  her  children  have  not  forgotten  the 
hope  in  which  they  were  joined  together  with  my  dear 
Robert,  and  I  see  its  beautiful  and  consoling  influence 
in  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles.  I  and  you,  though 
joined  in  the  same  trouble,  have  part  in  the  same  hope. 

'  Come  home,  dearest.     Your  affectionate  husband, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  words  of  feeling  and  of  sense  which  he  wrote  to 
his  nephew  who  had  lost  his  wife  in  childbirth  give  a 
Q  2 


223  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1846-47.  picture  of  Faraday  which  may  be  well  called  perfect. 

^Er.54-56.  '  If  the  loss  be  sudden  and  grievous  to  us,  how  much 
more  so  must  it  be  to  you  ;  and  indeed  we  feel  deeply 
for  you.  Let  us  hope  and  think  that  strength  will  be 
given  you  to  bear  it  as  a  man ;  patiently,  as  one  to 
whom  grief  and  adversity  does  not  come  bringing  only 
distress  and  unavailing  sorrow,  but  deeper  thoughts 
and  instruction  which  afterwards  produces  good  fruit. 
There  are  none  of  us  who  do  not  need  such  teaching, 
but  it  is  hard  to  bear ;  and  indeed,  my  dear  J.,  it  is  very 
hard  when  it  comes  with  such  an  overwhelming  flood 
as  that  which  has  just  reached  you.  I  know  that  no 
words  of  mine  are  fitted  to  comfort  you,  but  I  seek  only 
to  sympathise,  and  you  may  believe  how  earnestly  I  do 
so  when  I  at  the  same  moment  think  what  my  state 
would  have  been  had  your  loss  been  mine. 

'  Give  a  kiss  to  the  children  from  me.  Bemember 
me  to  your  mother,  and  think  of  me  as  your  very 
affectionate  uncle,  *  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  thus  writes  to  the  Eight  Honourable  Lord  Auck- 
land, then  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty. 


FARADAY  TO  LORD  AUCKLAND. 

'  14  Duke  Street,  Edinburgh  :  July  29,  1847. 

'  My  dear  Lord, — If  I  had  been  in  London  I  should 
have  waited  on  your  Lordship  at  the  Admiralty  instantly ; 
as  it  is,  I  can  only  express  my  readiness  to  have  done 
so.  In  reference  to  your  Lordship's  request,  I  will  now 
take  the  liberty  of  explaining  my  position,  which  I  did 
not  very  long  since  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Admiralty,  to  which  letter,  however,  and  to  a  former 


LETTEKS   DURING   HIS  LATTER   RESEARCHES.  229 

one,  containing  the  results  of  serious  consideration  and  1846-47. 
much  time,  I  have  never  received  any  reply.  jEr.54-56. 

'  For  years  past  my  health  has  been  more  and  more 
affected,  and  the  place  affected  is  my  head.  My 
medical  advisers  say  it  is  from  mental  occupation. 
The  result  is  loss  of  memory,  confusion  and  giddiness  ; 
the  sole  remedy,  cessation  from  such  occupation  and 
head-rest.  I  have  in  consequence  given  up,  for  the 
last  ten  years  or  more,  all  professional  occupation,  and 
voluntarily  resigned  a  large  income  that  I  might  pursue 
in  some  degree  my  own  objects  of  research.  But  in 
doing  this  I  have  always,  as  a  good  subject,  held 
myself  ready  to  assist  the  Government  if  still  in  my 
power — not  for  pay,  for,  except  in  one  instance  (and 
then  only  for  the  sake  of  the  person  joined  with  me),  I 
refused  to  take  it.  I  have  had  the  honour  and  pleasure 
of  applications,  and  that  very  recently,  from  the  Admi- 
ralty, the  Ordnance,  the  Home  Office,  the  Woods  and 
Forests,  and  other  departments,  all  of  which  I  have 
replied  to,  and  will  reply  to  as  long  as  strength  is  left 
me  ;  and  now  it  is  to  the  condition  under  which  I  am 
obliged  to  do  this  that  I  am  anxious  to  call  your  Lord- 
ship's attention  in  the  present  case.  I  shall  be  most 
happy  to  give  my  advice  and  opinion  in  any  case  as 
may  be  at  the  time  within  my  knowledge  or  power, 
but  I  may  not  undertake  to  enter  into  investigations  or 
experiments.  If  I  were  in  London  I  would  wait  upon 
your  Lordship,  and  say  all  I  could  upon  the  subject  of 
the  disinfecting  fluids,  but  I  would  not  undertake  the 
experimental  investigation ;  and  in  saying  this  I  am 
sure  that  I  shall  have  your  sympathy  and  approbation 
when  I  state  that  it  is  now  more  than  three  weeks 
since  I  left  London  to  obtain  the  benefit  of  change  of 


230  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1846-47.  air,  and  yet  my  giddiness  is  so  little  alleviated  that  I 
JET.64-66.  don't  feel  in  any  degree  confident  that  I  shall  ever  be 
able  to  return  to  my  recent  occupations  and  duties. 

4 1  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's 
very  faithful  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

LORD  AUCKLAND  TO  FARADAY. 

'Admiralty  :  August  1,  1847. 

*  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  received  your  letter,  and 
return  you  many  thanks  for  it.  I  am  very  sorry  for  the 
account  which  you  give  me  of  your  health,  and  must 
express  my  hope  that  the  quiet  which  you  are  seeking 
may  completely  restore  it.  For  the  investigation  which 
I  have  immediately  in  view  I  will  look  for  other  assist- 
ance. In  the  event  of  your  returning  to  us  in  perfect 
health  I  would  again  occasionally  recur  to  your  friendly 
advice. 

4  Very  truly,  &c., 

'  AUCKLAND.' 

He  writes  to  Capt.  W.  A.  B.  Hamilton,  E.K,  Secre- 
tary, Admiralty. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  August  30, 1847. 

4  Sir, — I  regret  that  I  cannot  at  present  accede  to  the 
request1  contained  in  your  letter  of  the  26th  instant. 
The  state  of  my  health  is  one  reason,  but  there  are 
others  which  I  am  too  weary  to  write  you  at  present, 
but  you  will  find  them  in  a  letter  which  I  wrote  to  Mr. 
Ward  about  three  months  ago,  and  to  which  I  beg  to 
direct  the  attention  of  my  Lords  Commissioners  and 

1  To  report  upon  the  working  of  Mr.  Gamble's  electro-magnetic  tele- 
graph upon  the  Great  Western  Railway. 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS  LATTER   KESEARCIIES.  231 

yourself.     I  may  be  allowed  to  express  a  little  surprise  1846-47. 
that  I  have  not  yet  received  any  reply,  either  to  that  ^1.54-06. 
letter   or   to  my  former  report  (in  conjunction  with 
Capt.  Brandreth)  on  this  particular  telegraph. 

4 1  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  following  note,  written  sixteen  years  after  his 
'  unfortunate  letter  '  to  M.  Hachette,  shows  that  he  was 
entirely  free  from  all  jealousy  of  others  as  regarded 
their  work  on  the  subjects  that  he  might  well  have 
looked  upon  as  his  own  property. 

FARADAY   TO   C.    MATTEUCCI. 

'Royal  Institution  :  May  29,  1847. 

'  My  dear  Matteucci, — I  find  you  are  at  work  on 
specific  induction. 

'  My  ideas  are  very  obscure  on  the  matter  now,  for 
I  cannot  recollect  the  facts,  and  shall  avoid  doing  so 
until  you  have  worked  out  your  views,  and  very  likely 
for  a  good  while  after,  for  I  am  never  better  pleased 
than  to  see  others  work  on  points  I  have  dealt  with, 
and  the  points  themselves  either  enlarged  or  multiplied 
or  corrected. 

4  Most  truly  yours, 

*M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

'Royal  Institution:  Oct.  23,  1847. 

'My  dear  Schonbein, — With  absolutely  nothing  to 
say,  I  still  feel  a  lingering  desire  to  write  to  you,  and 
though  I  have  waited  days  and  weeks  in  hopes  that 
my  thoughts  would  brighten,  I  will  wait  no  longer,  but 


939 


LIFE   OF   FAKADAY. 


1848-49.  just  make  a  return  to  your  very  characteristic  letter  by 
JET.56-5S.  one  which  will  be  distinguished  only  by  its  contrast 
with  it.  You  would  perhaps  see  by  the  "  Philosophical 
Magazine  "  that  I  had  received  yours,  for  the  whole  was 
printed  there  except  three  or  four  lines  at  the  end. 
The  novelty  and  beauty  of  your  new  test  for  ozone  is 
very  remarkable,  and  not  less  its  application  to  the 
detection  of  the  ozone  from  such  different  sources  as 
phosphorus,  the  electrical  brush,  and  electrolysis.  I 
shame  to  say  that  I  have  not  yet  repeated  the  experi- 
ments, but  my  head  has  been  so  giddy  that  my  doctors 
have  absolutely  forbidden  me  the  privilege  and  pleasure 
of  working  or  thinking  for  a  while,  and  so  I  am  con- 
strained to  go  out  of  town,  be  a  hermit,  and  take 
absolute  rest.  In  thinking  of  my  own  case  it  makes 
me  rejoice  to  know  of  your  health  and  strength,  and  to 
look  on  whilst  you  labour  with  a  constancy  so  unremit- 
ting and  so  successful.  Long  may  it  be  so,  to  the  joy 
and  happiness  of  yourself,  wife,  and  family. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours  most  truly, 

1 M.  FARADAY. 

'  I  do  not  talk  about  gun-cotton,  because  I  think 
you  will  let  me  know  when  anything  philosophical  or 
important  turns  up  respecting  it  which  it  would  give 
you  pleasure  to  tell  me.  But  you  may  suppose  that  I 
do  not  hope  the  less  in  respect  of  it.' 

The  years  1848-1849  give  no  strong  lines  in  the  life 
of  Faraday. 

I. 

The  early  part  of  1848  but  little  work  was  done  in 
the  laboratory.  In  May,  some  experiments  were  made 


LETTERS   DURING   HIS   LATTER   RESEARCHES.  233 

.with  a  view  to  the  retardation  effect  of  solar  rays  in  1848-49. 
combustion.  In  August,  Professor  Pliicker  was  here,  ^Ex.56-58. 
and  described  to  Faraday  certain  of  his  results  as 
to  crystalline  diamagnetic  relation.  Three  days  in 
August,  Pliicker  was  in  the  laboratory ;  and  all  Sep- 
tember and  October,  Faraday  worked  on  the  crystalline 
polarity  of  bismuth,  and  on  its  relation  to  the  magnetic 
force.  From  this  resulted  the  twenty-second  series  of 
'  Experimental  Eesearches.'  The  first  part  was  sent 
to  the  Eoyal  Society,  October  4 ;  and  the  second, 
October  31. 

Dr.,Tyndall  says  of  this  investigation  : — 

'  The  action  of  crystals  had  been  in  part  theo- 
retically predicted  by  Poisson,  and  actually  discovered 
by  Pliicker,  whose  beautiful  results,  at  the  period 
which  we  have  now  reached,  profoundly  interested  all 
scientific  men.  Faraday  had  been  frequently  puzzled 
by  the  deportment  of  bismuth,  a  highly  crystalline 
metal.  Sometimes  elongated  masses  of  the  substance 
refused  to  set  equatorially,  sometimes  they  set  persis- 
tently oblique,  and  sometimes  even,  like  a  magnetic 
body,  from  pole  to  pole.  "  The  effect,"  he  says,  "  occurs 
at  a  single  pole ;  and  it  is  then  striking  to  observe 
a  long  piece  of  a  substance  so  diamagnetic  as  bismuth 
repelled,  and  yet  at  the  same  moment  set  round  with 
force,  axially,  or  end  on,  as  a  piece  of  magnetic  sub- 
stance would  do."  The  phenomena,  he  concludes,  are 
altogether  different  from  those  of  magnetism  or  dia- 
magnetism  ;  they  would  appear,  in  fact,  to  present  to  us 
"  a  new  force,  or  a  new  form  of  force,  in  the  molecules 
of  matter,"  which  for  convenience'  sake  he  designates 
by  a  new  word,  as  "  the  magne-crystallic  force." 


234  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1848-49.  '  After  the  description  of  the  general  character  of  this 
aJT.56-58.  new  force,  Faraday  states  with  the  emphasis  here  re- 
produced its  mode  of  action  :  "  The  law  of  action  ap- 
pears to  be  that  the  line  or  axis  of  'MAGNE-CRYSTALLIC  force 
(being  the  resultant  of  the  action  of  all  the  molecules) 
tends  to  place  itself  parallel,  or  as  a  tangent  to  the 
magnetic  curve,  or  line  of  magnetic  force  passing  through 
the  place  where  the  crystal  is  situated."  The  magne- 
crystallic  force,  moreover,  appears  to  him  "to  be  clearly 
distinguished  from  the  magnetic  or  diamagnetic  forces, 
in  that  it  causes  neither  approach  nor  recession,  con- 
sisting^  not  in  attraction  or  repulsion,  but  in  giving 
a  certain  determinate  position  to  the  mass  under  its 
influence."  And  then  he  goes  on  "  very  carefully  to 
examine  and  prove  the  conclusion  that  there  was  no 
connection  of  the  force  with  attractive  or  repulsive 
influences." 

'  In  conclusion.  "  This  force,"  he  says, "  appears  to  me 
to  be  very  strange  and  striking  in  its  character.  It  is 
not  polar,  for  there  is  no  attraction  or  repulsion."  And 
then,  as  if  startled  by  his  own  utterance,  he  adds : — 
"  What  is  the  nature  of  the  mechanical  force  which  turns 
the  crystal  round,  and  makes  it  affect  a  magnet  ?  "  .  .  . 
"  I  do  not  remember,"  he  continues,  "  heretofore  such 
a  case  of  force  as  the  present  one,  where  a  body  is 
brought  into  position  only,  without  attraction  or  re- 
pulsion." 

'  At  the  end  of  his  papers,  when  he  takes  a  last  look 
along  the  line  of  research,  and  then  turns  his  eyes  to 
the  future,  utterances  quite  as  much  emotional  as 
scientific  escape  from  Faraday.  "  I  cannot,"  he  says,  at 
the  end  of  his  first  paper  on  magne-crystallic  action, 
"  conclude  this  series  of  researches  without  remarking 


THE  LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  235 

how  rapidly  the  knowledge  of  molecular  forces  grows  1848-49. 
upon  us,  and  how  strikingly  every  investigation  tends 
to  develope  more  and  more  their  importance,  and  their 
extreme  attraction  as  an  object  of  study.  A  few  years 
ago,  magnetism  was  to  us  an  occult  power,  affecting 
only  a  few  bodies ;  now  it  is  found  to  influence  all 
bodies,  and  to  possess  the  most  intimate  relations  with 
electricity,  heat,  chemical  action,  light,  crystallisa- 
tion, and  through  it,  with  the  forces  concerned  in  co- 
hesion ;  and  we  may,  in  the  present  state  of  things, 
well  feel  urged  to  continue  in  our  labours,  encouraged 
by  the  hope  of  bringing  it  into  a  bond  of  union  with 
gravity  itself." ' 

Professor  Tyndall  continues : — 

4  Pliicker's  and  Faraday's  investigations  filled  all 
minds  at  the  time,  and  towards  the  end  of  1849, 
Professor  Knoblauch  and  myself  commenced  a  joint 
investigation  of  the  entire  question.  Long  discipline 
was  necessary  to  give  us  due  mastery  over  it.  Em- 
ploying a  method  proposed  by  Dove,  we  examined  the 
optical  properties  of  our  crystals  ourselves  ;  and  these 
optical  observations  went  hand  in  hand  with  our 
magnetic  experiments.  The  number  of  these  experi- 
ments was  very  great,  but  for  a  considerable  time  no 
fact  of  importance  was  added  to  those  already  published. 
At  length,  however,  it  was  our  fortune  to  meet  with 
various  crystals  whose  deportment  could  not  be  brought 
under  the  laws  of  magne-crystallic  action  enunciated 
by  Pliicker.  We  also  discovered  instances  which  led 
us  to  suppose  that  the  magne-crystallic  force  was  by 
no  means  independent,  as  alleged,  of  the  magnetism  or 


236  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1848-49.  diamagnetism  of  the  mass  of  the  crystal.  Indeed,  the 
J3T.56-58.  more  we  worked  at  the  subject,  the  more  clearly  did 
it  appear  to  us  that  the  deportment  of  crystals  in  the 
magnetic  field  was  due,  not  to  a  force  previously 
unknown,  but  to  the  modification  of  the  known  forces 
of  magnetism  and  diamagnetism  by  crystalline  aggre- 
gation. 

'  These  and  numerous  other  results  bearing  upon  the 
question  were  published  at  the  time  in  the  "  Philoso- 
phical Magazine  "  and  in  Poggendorff's  "Annalen ; "  and 
the  investigation  of  diamagnetism  and  magne-crystallic 
action  was  subsequently  continued  by  me  in  the  labora- 
tory of  Professor  Magnus  of  Berlin. 

'  It  required  long  subsequent  effort  to  subdue  the 
complications  of  magne-crystallic  action,  and  to  bring 
under  the  dominion  of  elementary  principles  the  vast 
mass  of  facts  which  the  experiments  of  Faraday  and 
Pliicker  had  brought  to  light. 

'  The  most  perplexing  of  those  facts  were  shown  to 
result  from  the  action  of  mechanical  couples,  which  the 
proved  polarity  both  of  magnetism  and  diamagnetism 
brought  into  play.  Indeed,  the  thoroughness  with 
which  the  experiments  of  Faraday  were  thus  ex- 
plained, is  the  most  striking  possible  demonstration 
of  the  marvellous  precision  with  which  they  were 
executed.' 

In  the  early  part  of  1849  the  laboratory  work 
consisted  of  experiments  on  the  possible  relation  of 
gravity  to  electricity.  In  September,  October  and 
November  the  polarity  of  bismuth,  copper,  phosphorus 
in  the  magnetic  field  was  again  examined.  Again  he 
arrived  only  at  negative  results,  but  these  he  sent  to 
the  Eoyal  Society  as  the  twenty-third  series  of  *  Experi- 


TIIE    LATTER   PERIOD    OF  HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  237 

mental  Researches '  on  the  polar  or  other  condition  of  1848-49. 
diamagnetic  bodies.  ^ET.SS-SS. 

In  the  Edinburgh  new  '  Philosophical  Journal '  he 
had  a  paper  in  1848  on  the  use  of  gutta-percha  in 
electrical  insulation. 

For  the  Institution  in  1848  he  gave  a  course  of 
seven  lectures  on  the  allied  phenomena  of  the  chemical 
and  electrical  forces. 

In  his  notes  on  the  voltaic  battery,  he  wrote :  '  Here 
consider  how  Davy  wielded  this  power,  and  triumphed 
over  the  alkalies  in  this  room.'  And  of  the  combustion 
of  the  zinc,  he  writes  :  '  And  this  gives  one  a  strange 
sensation  as  to  what  may  be  going  on  in  a  gas  flame  or 
a  fire  ; '  and  hopes  that  some  day  we  may  transfer  their 
light  and  heat  and  all  their  other  powers  to  a  distance, 
and  use  them  at  pleasure,  laying  on,  not  gas,  but  the 
powers  of  the  gas  or  oil,  and  so  having  a  lamp  more 
wonderful  than  Aladdin's. 

He  ended  his  course  thus :  '  I  would  rather  leave 
you  admiring  with  me  the  wonderful  way  in  which  we 
thus  see  the  same  force  made  manifest  under  such 
extraordinary  differences,  than  whilst  I  see  but  the 
clouded  truth  pretend  to  explain  it  clearly.  We  are 
all  in  the  condition  of  those  who,  being  thirsty,  have 
not  that  which  is  needed,  and  therefore  should  con- 
jointly desire  and  struggle  for  the  knowledge  that  is  to 
be  revealed.' 

In  1849,  at  the  Institution,  after  Easter,  he  gave  eight 
lectures  on  static  electricity.  Early  in  the  first  lecture 
he  says  in  his  notes  :  '  What  an  idea  of  the  ever  present 
and  ever  ready  state  of  this  power  is  given  to  us,  when  we 
thus  consider  that  not  only  every  substance,  but  almost 
every  mode  of  dealing  with  a  substance,  manifests  its 


238  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1848-49.  presence.  It  is  not  accidental  at  these  times,  but  active, 
JET.56-58.  and  essentially  so ;  and  we  may  in  our  endeavours  to 
comprehend  it  usefully  compare  and  contrast  it  with 
gravity,  which  never  changes.  There  we  see  that 
power  which  in  undisturbed  and  solemn  grandeur  holds 
equally  the  world  and  the  dust  of  which  worlds  are 
formed  together,  and  carries  them  on  in  their  course 
through  illimitable  space  for  illimitable  ages  ;  and  in 
this  other  power,  even  in  this  our  first  glimpse,  we  see 
probably  the  contrasted  force  which  is  destined  to  give 
all  that  vivacity  and  mutual  activity  to  particles  that 
shall  fit  them,  as  far  as  matter  alone  is  concerned,  for 
their  wonderful  office  in  the  phenomena  of  Nature,  and 
enable  them  to  bring  forth  the  ever  varying  and 
astonishing  changes  which  earth,  air,  fire,  and  water 
present  to  us,  from  the  motion  of  the  dust  in  the 
whirlwind  up  to  the  highest  conditions  of  life.' 

By  accident  during  this  course  he  received  a  severe 
shock  from  the  Leyden  battery.  He  laughed  hysteric- 
ally, and  the  audience,  thinking  that  he  laughed 
jokingly,  joined  in  the  joke.  With  some  difficulty  he 
continued  the  lecture. 

He  gave  three  Friday  discourses.  On  the  diamagnetic 
condition  of  flame  and  gases ;  on  two  recent  inven- 
tions of  artificial  stone ;  and  on  dimorphism  or  allo- 
tropic  conditions,  the  conversion  of  diamond  into  coke 
by  the  electric  flame. 

In  1849  he  gave  three  Friday  discourses.  On  magne- 
crystallic  phenomena;  on  Pliicker's  repulsion  of  the 
optic  axis  of  crystals  by  the  magnetic  poles ;  and  on 
De  la  Eue's  envelope  machinery. 

On  Monday  morning,  February  26,  Prince  Albert 
came  to  the  Institution  to  a  private  lecture  on  magnetic 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD    OF   HIS  EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  239 

and  diamagnetic  bodies.  Faraday's  notes  begin  thus  :  1848-49. 
'  The  exertions  in  physical  science  of  late  years  have 
been  directed  to  ascertain,  not  merely  the  different 
natural  powers,  but  the  manner  in  which  they  are 
linked  together,  the  universality  of  each  in  its  action, 
and  their  probable  unity  in  one'  He  ends  his  notes 
thus  :  '  Such  are  the  recent  additions  to  our  knowledge 
respecting  the  manner  in  which  the  magnetic  force 
exercises  its  governing  power  over  matter ;  and  when 
we  thus  see  it  extended  to  all  matter,  animal,  vegetable, 
or  mineral,  living  or  lifeless,  and  when  we  see  it  thus 
making  strange  or  stnking  distinctions  between  the  same 
kind  of  matter,  as  it  may  be  in  the  amorphous  or  crystal- 
line state,  and  when  we  remember  that  the  earth  itself  is 
a  magnet,  pervaded  in  every  part  by  this  mighty  power, 
universal  and  strong  as  gravity  itself,  we  cannot  doubt 
that  it  is  exerting  an  appointed  and  essential  influence 
over  every  particle  of  matter  and  in  every  place  where 
it  is  present.  What  its  great  purpose  is,  seems  to  be 
looming  in  the  distance  before  us,  the  clouds  which 
obscure  our  mental  sight  are  daily  thinning,  and  I 
cannot  doubt  that  a  glorious  discovery  in  natural 
knowledge,  and  of  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God  in 
the  creation,  is  awaiting  our  age,  and  that  we  may  not 
only  hope  to  see  it,  but  even  be  honoured  to  help  in 
obtaining  the  victory  over  present  ignorance  and  future 
knowledge.' 

He  held  the  same  hope  unchanged  when  in  his 
seventieth  year  he  wrote  :  '  Nothing  would  make  me 
happier  in  the  things  of  this  life,  than  to  make  some 
scientific  discovery  or  development.' 

He  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  on  the  chemical 
history  of  a  candle. 


240  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1848-49.       He  reported  to  the  Trinity  House  in  1849  on  the 
^66^68.  ventilation  of  Flambro'  Head,  Dungeness,  Needles,  and 
Portland  Lighthouses. 

II. 

His  reputation  was  marked  in  the  year  1848  by  two 
titles. 

He  was  made  Foreign  Honorary  Member  (one  of 
eight)  of  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Sciences,  Vienna, 
and  Doctor  of  Liberal  Arts  and  Philosophy  in  the 
University  of  Prague  ;  and  a  letter  from  M.  Dumas  is 
of  some  interest  as  evidence  of  his  regard  for  Faraday. 

In  1849  he 'was  made  Honorary  Member,  First  Class, 
Institut  Eoyale  des  Pays-Bas,  and  Foreign  Correspon- 
dent of  the  Institute,  Madrid. 

A  letter  from  Professor  Oersted,  the  discoverer  of 
electro-magnetism,  speaks  of  the  value  of  Faraday's 
researches. 

M.    DUMAS   TO   FARADAY. 

'A  la  Sorbonne,  le  24  juillet,  1848. 

*Mon  cher  ami, — Les  evenements  si  tristes,  mais, 
helas !  si  bien  prevus,  que  Paris  a  dft  subir  n'ont  affecte 
ni  inoi  ni  les  miens  d'une  maniere  directe.  Mdme.  Du- 
mas et  moi,  nous  avons  ete  bien  touches  de  votre  marque 
de  bonte  et  de  souvenir ;  c'est  une  consolation  que 
cette  affection  des  ames  elevees,  comme  la  votre,  au 
milieu  d'un  desordre  moral  dont  rien  n'en  peut  vous 
donner  une  idee,  et  qu'aucune  imagination  n'aurait 
certainement  pu  soupconner. 

4  Paris  etait  devenu,  depuis  six  mois,  le  rendez-vous 
de  tous  les  scelerats  de  la  France  et  de  1'Europe.  Les 
uns  comme  chefs,  les  autres  comme  instruments,  tous 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  241 

ensemble  ils  s'etaient  propose  le  pillage,  le  meurtre,     1848. 
1'incendie,  et  tons  les  desordres  coinme  les  moyens  de  JET.SS-SZ'. 
regenerer  notre  nation,  en  detruisant  sa  bourgeoisie  et 
en  livrant  tons  les  pouvoirs,  toutes  les  fortunes,  et  toutes 
les  families  au  despotisme  et  h  la  brutalite  des  classes 
ouvrieres. 

'  Tout  est  voile  ici ;  les  arts,  les  lettres,  les  sciences, 
tout  se  ressent  du  deuil  universel.  Les  fortunes,  les 
proletaires,  les  existences,  tout  a  ete  mis  en  question 
par  les  evenements  qui  se  sont  succedes. 

'  M.  Arago  me  charge  de  vous  dire  combien  votre 
bon  souvenir  lui  a  ete  doux  au  coeur.  Sa  conduite 
dans  ces  dernieres  journees  de  peril  a  ete  si  ferme  et  si 
courageuse,  qu'il  s'est  jete  sur  les  barricades  au  milieu 
des  balles  avec  tant  de  resolution,  que  les  personnes 
qui  orit  pu  le  voir  dans  ces  circonstances  ont  pu  croire 
qu'il  cherchait  une  mort  glorieuse,  desesperant  du  salut 
du  pays.  II  faut  bien  convenir  que  nous  en  etions  tous 
la,  et  que  cette  triste  pensee  ne  pouvait  guere  s'eloigner 
de  nos  coeurs  quand  nous  songions  a  1'immensite  des 
ressources  des  insurges  et  a  la  faiblesse  des  moyens  de 
resistance  que  nous  possedions. 

'  Que  Dieu  vous  preserve,  mon  cher  ami,  votre  pays 
et  vous,  de  ces  lamentables  folies !  Jamais  nous  ne 
cicatriserons  les  plaies  ouvertes  et  envenimees  depuis 
quelques  mois  par  la  presse,  les  clubs,  les  societes 
secretes,  et  surtout  les  ateliers  nationaux.  Partout  la 
haine  de  toutes  les  superiorites,  la  soif  de  toutes  les 
richesses,  la  meprise  de  tout  ce  que  I'liomme  doit 
respecter ;  voilk  ce  qui  a  fait  la  base  des  ecrits,  du 
discours  et  des  associations. 

'  J'interromps  ma  lettre  pour  lire  le  billet  qui  m'an- 
nonce  la  mort  d'un  ami,  blesse  il  y  a  un  mois.  Tous 

VOL.   II.  R 


242  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1849.     les  jours  il  en  est  ainsi ;   les  convois  se  succedent,  et 
MI.  68.    nous  sommes  loin  d'avoir  fini  ce  compte  funebre. 

'  Adieu,  mon  cher  ami.  Pardonnez-moi  si  je  vous 
reponds  si  tard,  mais  votre  lettre  ne  m'est  pas  parvenue 
comme  elle  aurait  du.  J'ai  change  de  logement.  Me 
voici  a  la  Sorbonne;  et  puis  je  suis  bien  decourage, 
bien  triste. 

'  Mes  respects  a  Madame  Faraday,  je  vous  prie. 
'  Mille  amities. 

1  DUMAS.' 

PROFESSOR  OERSTED  TO  FARADAY. 

'  Copenhagen  :  Decemter  27, 1849. 

*  My  dear  Sir, — Permit  me  to  recall  myself  in  your 
remembrance,  in   introducing  to  the  honour  of  your 
acquaintance  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Colding. 

*  You  have,  in  earlier  years,  had  the  kindness  to 
send  me  your  series  of  "  Eesearches,"  of  which  I  possess 
the  first  seventeen.     Though  I  have  the  whole  series  in 
the  "  Transactions,"  I  should  be  glad  to  be  in  possession 
of  the  continuation  of  these  immortal  papers.  I  consider 
already  those  which  I  have  as  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished ornaments  of  my  library. 

4 1  am,  dear  Sir,  with  sincere  admiration,  most  faith- 
fully yours, 

«  H.  C.  OERSTED.' 

III. 

His  love  of  quiet  and  of  home  is  seen  in  a  letter 
to  Mrs.  Faraday  from  Birmingham ;  and  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Brodie  shows  how  he  estimated 
his  own  position. 

In  July  he  wrote  to  the  Eev.  John  Barlow,  from 
Clevedon,  Somersetshire. 


LETTERS   DURIXG  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  243 


FARADAY   TO   REV.    J.    BARLOW. 

'  Your  kind  letter  came  safe  to  hand,  and  was  very 
welcome.  It  finds  my  head  so  confused  that  whether  I 
shall  spell  or  write  my  words  rightly  I  really  cannot 
tell.  I  knew  not  until  I  made  up  my  mind  to  rest, 
how  much  I  wanted  it ;  and  should  think  that  I  was 
more  feeble  now  than  when  I  left  London,  did  I  not 
know  from  old  experience  that  I  have  first  to  sink  to 
a  natural  state  before  I  can  naturally  and  healthily  rise 
from  it.  I  expect,  however,  that  I  shall  obtain  what  I 
want,  though  not  perhaps  as  soon  as  I  desire.  If, 
therefore,  I  should  feel  that  a  week  longer  here  would 
complete  the  good  I  want,  I  think  I  may  stop.' 

FARADAY  TO    W.   R.   GROVE,    ESQ. 

(who  had  asked  for  some  heavy  glass  for  Matteucci). 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  9,  1848. 

'My  dear  Grove, — Matteucci's  embarrassment  re- 
sults, I  suppose,  from  his  having  already  had  some 
heavy  glass,  but  though  I  have  none  to  waste,  I  have 
as  yet  plenty  for  all  who  want  it  for  use.  I  send  you 
herewith  a  piece  for  him,  with  my  kindest  remem- 
brances. I  wrote  to  him  by  the  Marquis  Eidolfi  only 
a  week  or  two  ago ;  else  I  would  punish  him  with  a 
letter.  I  do  not  know  whether  you  have  or  would 
care  for  a  piece  of  the  heavy  glass.  I  have  sent  another 
plate  to  be  cut  into  pieces.  It  is  not  so  good  as  the 
glass  already  dispersed,  but  I  have  no  doubt  will  do, 
except  that  it  may  be  deficient  in  the  annealing. 
However,  that  does  not  prevent,  though  it  modifies, 

B2 


244  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1848.     the  optic  phenomena.     When  it  conies  back  you  shall 
~JET.  57/  have  a  piece,  if  you  like  ;  only  I  am  afraid  I  may  FORGET, 
for  that  is  my  great  and  continual  trouble. 
'  Ever  yours, 

*  M.  FAKADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   MRS.    FARADAY, 

r  Birmingham,  Dr.  Percy's : 
'  Thursday  evening,  September  13,  1849. 

'My  dearest  Wife, — I  have  just  left  Dr.  Percy's 
hospitable  table  to  write  to  you,  my  beloved,  telling 
you  how  I  have  been  getting  on.  I  am  very  well, 
excepting  a  little  faceache ;  and  very  kindly  treated 
here.  They  all  long  most  earnestly  for  your  presence, 
for  both  Mrs.  and  Dr.  Percy  are  anxious  you  should 
come  ;  and  this  I  know,  that  the  things  we  have  seen 
would  delight  you,  but  then  I  doubt  your  powers  of 
running  about  as  we  do ;  and  though  I  know  that  if 
time  were  given  you  could  enjoy  them,  yet  to  press 
the  matter  into  a  day  or  two  would  be  a  failure. 
Besides  this,  after  all,  there  is  no  pleasure  like  the 
tranquil  pleasures  of  home,  and  here — even  here — the 
moment  I  leave  the  table,  I  wish  I  were  with  you  ix 
QUIET.  Oh !  what  happiness  is  ours !  My  runs  into 
the  world  in  this  way  only  serve  to  make  me  esteem 
that  happiness  the  more.  I  mean  to  be  at  home  on 
Saturday  night,  but  it  may  be  late  first,  so  do  not  be 
surprised  at  that ;  for  if  I  can,  I  should  like  to  go  on  an 
excursion  to  the  Dudley  caverns,  and  that  would  take 
the  day. 

'Mr.  Daniel  called  on  me  to-day  with  a  pressing 
invitation  for  you  and  me  to  his  house,  for  which  I 


LETTEES  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  245 

thanked  him  sincerely,  as  he  deserved  to  be  thanked,      1849. 
but  I  could  give  no  hopes  of  that.  &T.  58. 

*  Write  to  me,  dearest.  I  shall  get  your  letter  on 
Saturday  morning,  or  perhaps  before. 

'  Love  to  father,  Margery,  and  Jenny,  and  a  thousand 
loves  to  yourself,  dearest, 

'  From  your  affectionate  husband, 

<M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO   DR.    PERCY. 

1  Royal  Institution :  October  17,  1849. 

c  My  dear  Percy, — I  cannot  be  on  the  Committee ;  I 
avoid  everything  of  that  kind,  that  I  may  keep  my 
stupid  mind  a  little  clear.  As  to  being  on  a  Committee 
and  not  working,  that  is  worse  still. 

'  I  wish  we  could  get  to  Birmingham,  and  use  your 
kindness,  but  that  may  not  be.  My  working  time  is 
from  October  to  December,  and  I  am  fully  in  it :  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  as  yet,  with  negative  results.  Still  I  must 
work. 

'  Ever  yours  and  Mrs.  Percy's, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO   C.    MATTEUCCI. 

'  Royal  Institution :  November  5,  1849. 

'My  dear  Matteucci, —  ....  I  have  lately  been 
working  for  full  six  weeks  trying  to  procure  results, 
and  have  indeed  procured  them,  but  they  are  all  nega- 
tive. But  the  worst  of  it  is,  I  find  on  looking  back  to 
my  notes,  that  I  ascertained  all  the  same  results  experi- 
mentally eight  or  nine  months  ago,  and  had  entirely 
forgotten  them.  This  in  some  degree  annoys  me.  I 


246  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1849.     do  not  mean  the  labour,  but  the  forgetfulness,  for,  in 
MT.  58.    fact,  the  labour  without  memory  is  of  no  use. 

1  Still  I  have  a  thousand  causes  of  thankfulness,  and 
am  not  repining,  only  explaining.  If  I  could  have  my 
own  way,  I  would  never  write  you  a  letter  without 
some  scientific  point  in  it.  As  it  is,  the  chances  are 
they  will  be  as  barren  as  this  one. 

'  Yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   B.    C.    BRODIE,   ESQ. 

'  Koyal  Institution  :  December  17,  1849. 

*  My  dear  Brodie, — I  owe  you  many  and  sincere 
thanks  for  your  kind  note.     As  to  your  letter  to  the 
Secretary,  which  was  of  course  read  to  the  Managers,  it 
contained  so  absolute  a  negative  on  your  part  to  their 
request  to  give  another  course  of  lectures  at  the  Institu- 
tion, that  everybody  felt  there  was  no  more  to  say  upon 
the  matter.     The  Secretary  might,  and  very  probably 
by  this  time  has,  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  it. 

'  And  now,  my  dear  Sir,  though  it  was  this  affair 
that  chiefly  made  you  and  me  known  to  each  other, 
and  though  it  has  ended  otherwise  than  I  hoped,  still 
I  shall  not,  as  regards  ourselves,  let  matters  return  to 
their  former  state. 

*  I  hope  much  from  you,  and  shall,  as  long  as  I  re- 
main in  life,  look  with  expectation,  and,  I  trust,  rejoicing, 
to  your  course.     If  any  word  from  me  is  of  the  least 
value  as  a  word  of  encouragement  and  exhortation,  I 
say  proceed,  advance. 

'  Here  things  have  reverted  very  much  to  their 
former  state,  I  rather  think  perhaps  fitly.  The  time 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  247 

was  probably  too  soon  for  any  change.     But  when     1850. 
such  an  one  as  myself  gets  out  of  the  way,  then  new  JET.SS-SO, 
conditions,  new  men,  new  views,  and  new  opportunities 
may  allow  of  the  development  of  other  lines  of  active 
operation  than  those  heretofore  in  service ;  and  then 
perhaps  will  be  the  time  for  change. 
1  Ever,  my  dear  Sir,  very  truly  yours, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

I. 

In  1850  more  original  research  was  done  than  in  any 
year  since  his  illness.  He  had  no  less  than  five  papers 
read  at  the  Eoyal  Society.  The  first  of  these  was  on  the 
polar  condition  of  diamagnetic  bodies.  The  second 
was  on  the  possible  relation  of  gravity  to  electricity. 

On  March  19,  1849,  he  writes  in  the  laboratory 
book  thus  :  '  Gravity.  Surely  this  force  must  be  cap- 
able of  an  experimental  relation  to  electricity,  magnetism, 
and  the  other  forces,  so  as  to  bind  it  up  with  them  in 
reciprocal  action  and  equivalent  effect.  Consider  for 
a  moment  how  to  set  about  touching  this  matter  by  facts 
and  trial. 

'  What  in  gravity  answers  to  the  dual  or  antithetical 
nature  of  the  forms  of  force  in  electricity  and  magnetism  ? 
Perhaps  the  to  and/r0,  that  is,  the  ceding  to  the  force 
or  approach  of  gravitating  bodies,  arid  the  effectual 
reversion  of  the  force  or  separation  of  the  bodies,  quies- 
cence being  the  neutral  condition.  Try  the  question 
experimentally  on  these  grounds,  then  the  following  sup- 
positions or  suggestions  arise. 

'  Bodies  approaching  by  gravitation,  and  bodies  sepa- 
rated per  force  whilst  gravitating  towards  each  other, 
may  show  in  themselves  or  in  surrounding  matter  or 


248  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  helices  opposite  currents  of  electricity  round  the  line  of 
jET.:,8-59.  motion  as  an  axis.  But  if  not  moving  to  or  from  each 
other  should  produce  no  effect.' 

And  then  he  continues  for  twenty  paragraphs  noting 
subjects  for  examination  and  thought,  and  ends  saying  : 
'ALL  THIS  is  A  DREAM.  Still  examine  it  by  a  few 
experiments.  Nothing  is  too  wonderful  to  be  true,  if  it 
be  consistent  with  the  laws  of  nature ;  and  in  such  things 
as  these,  experiment  is  the  best  test  of  such  consistency.' 

Again,  March  28,  he  writes  :  *  If  there  should  happen 
to  be  any  result  of  the  kind  imagined,  then  a  body 
moving  up  would  produce  one  current,  and  moving  down 
the  reverse  current.  Now,  these  may  be  converted  by 
a  commutator  into  one  consistent  current,  and  that  may 
be  sent  through  a  galvanometer  for  the  time  of  a  half 
vibration  of  the  needle,  and  then  by  a  second  commu- 
tator be  sent  for  the  second  half  vibration  in  the  con- 
trary direction,  then  back  in  the  first  direction,  and  so 
on  continually.  This  would  seem  to  be  a  good  way  of 
accumulating  the  induced  force  or  current,  IF  THERE  BE 

ANT.' 

The  experiments  which  he  made  on  this  subject  are 
recorded  in  the  twenty-fourth  series  of '  Experimental 
Eesearches,'  received  by  the  Eoyal  Society,  August  1, 
1850,  on  the  possible  relation  of  gravity  to  electricity. 
He  finishes  the  paper  thus :  «  Here  end  my  trials  for  the 
present.  The  results  are  negative ;  they  do  not  shake 
my  strong  feeling  of  the  existence  of  a  relation  between 
gravity  and  electricity,  though  they  give  no  proof  that 
such  a  relation  exists.'  Ten  years  afterwards  he  says 
the  same  thing,  almost  in  the  same  words,  in  the  very 
last  paper  that  he  wrote,  so  constant  was  he  even  in 
science  when  he  had  made  up  his  mind. 


THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.     249 

The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  papers,  being  the  twenty-  1850. 
fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  series  of '  Eesearches,'  were  on  JET.SS-SQ. 
the  magnetic  state  of  gases.  Throughout  the  whole 
year,  the  diamagnetic  or  magnetic  condition  of  gases  was 
the  subject  of  the  laboratory  work.  June  24,  he  writes, 
after  having  tried  soap  bubbles  with  air  and  nitrogen  : 
'  Oxygen.  Here  the  effect  was  beautiful,  the  bubble  being 
pulled  inwards  with  very  considerable  force  in  air  and 
looking  exactly  as  if  the  oxygen  were  highly  magnetic. 
This  was  of  course  expected,  and  accords  with  all  the 
phenomena  of  the  old  time.'  And  then  he  says  :  '  If  one 
could  tell  how  a  bubble  of  hot  gas  would  move  in  an 
atmosphere  of  the  same  gas  cold,  but  rarefied  to  the  same 
degree  as  the  hot,  it  would  be  important,  only  I  do  not 
see  how  that  is  to  be  done.' 

On  July  13  he  devises  a  way  of  getting  over  his 
difficulty  thus  :  '  May  compare  a  rare  and  a  dense  gas 
in  thin  glass  cylinders  placed  on  opposite  sides  of  axial 
line  in  magnetic  field  ; '  and  on  July  16  he  immediately 
compares  dense  and  exhausted  oxygen ;  and  July  27 
he  writes  :  c  The  results  were  beautiful,  showing  that  as 
the  oxygen  was  rarefied  up  to  a  vacuum  it  became  less 
and  less  powerful  in  its  tendency  inwards.  Hence  can 
hardly  resist  the  conclusion  that  it  is  a  magnetic  body, 
and  powerfully  magnetic,  and  that  as  it  is  rarefied  it  loses 
some  of  this  power.  The  loss  seemed  to  me  very  like 
as  if  in  proportion  to  the  removal  of  oxygen.' 

Then,  he  estimates  the  amount  of  paramagnetic  force 
in  oxygen. 

These  and  other  results  he  sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society 
as  the  twenty-fifth  series  of  '  Eesearches.' 

He  ends  his  paper  thus : — 


250  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  '  It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  say  here  that  this 
JST.5E-59.  oxygen  cannot  exist  in  the  atmosphere,  exerting  such 
a  remarkable  and  high  amount  of  magnetic  force,  with- 
out having  a  most  important  influence  on  the  disposition 
of  the  magnetism  of  the  earth  as  a  planet,  especially  if 
it  be  remembered  that  its  magnetic  condition  is  greatly 
altered  by  variations  in  its  density  and  by  variations  in 
its  temperature.  I  think  I  see  here  the  real  cause  of 
many  of  the  variations  of  that  force  which  have  been 
and  are  now  so  carefully  watched  on  different  parts  of 
the  surface  of  the  globe.  The  daily  variation  and  the 
annual  both  seem  likely  to  come  under  it ;  also  very 
many  of  the  irregular  continual  variations  which  the 
photographic  process  of  record  renders  so  beautifully 
manifest.  If  such  expectations  be  confirmed,  and  the 
influence  of  the  atmosphere  be  found  able  to  produce 
results  like  these,  then  we  shall  probably  find  a  new 
relation  between  the  aurora  borealis  and  the  magnetism 
of  the  earth,  namely,  a  relation  established  more  or  less 
through  the  air  itself  in  connection  with  the  space 
above  it ;  and  even  magnetic  relations  and  variations 
which  are  not  as  yet  suspected  may  be  suggested  and 
rendered  manifest  and  measurable  in  the  further  de- 
velopment of  what  I  will  venture  to  call  atmospheric 
magnetism.  I  may  be  over  sanguine  in  these  expecta- 
tions, but  as  yet  I  am  sustained  in  them  by  the  apparent 
reality,  simplicity,  and  sufficiency  of  the  cause  assumed 
as  it  at  present  appears  to  my  mind.  As  soon  as  I  have 
sufficiently  submitted  these  views  to  a  close  consideration 
and  the  test  of  accordance  with  observation,  and  where 
applicable  with  experiments  also,  I  will  do  myself  the 
honour  to  bring  them  before  the  Eoyal  Society.' 

On    October    9    the   twenty-sixth    series,    and     on 


THE    LATTER   PERIOD   OF  HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  251 

November  19  the  twenty-seventh  series  of  'Eesearches'     1850^ 
were  sent  to  the  Royal  Society.  ^T.SS  59. 

In  a  letter  he  drew  a  picture  of  himself  whilst  writing 
these  papers  for  the  Eoyal  Society. 

His  letter  is  dated  August  24,  from  Upper  Norwood, 
to  a  friend  who  asked  him  to  stay  in  the  country  in  the 
summer : — *  I  have  kept  your  picture  to  look  at  for  a 
day  or  two  before  I  acknowledge  your  kindness  in 
sending  it.  It  gives  the  idea  of  a  tempting  place  ;  but 
what  can  you  say  to  such  persons  as  we  are  who  eschew 
all  the  ordinary  temptations  of  society  ?  There  is  one 
thing,  however,  society  has  which  we  do  not  eschew  ; 
perhaps  it  is  not  very  ordinary,  though  I  have  found  a 
great  deal  of  it,  and  that  is  kindness,  and  we  both  join 
most  heartily  in  thanking  you  for  it,  even  when  we  do 
not  accept  that  which  it  offers.  I  must  tell  you  how 
we  are  situated.  We  have  taken  a  little  house  here  on 
the  hill-top,  where  I  have  a  small  room  to  myself,  and 
have,  ever  since  we  came  here,  been  deeply  immersed 
in  magnetic  cogitations.  I  write  and  write  and  write, 
until  three  papers  for  the  Royal  Society  are  nearly 
completed,  and  I  hope  that  two  of  them  will  be  good 
if  they  justify  my  hopes,  for  I  have  to  criticise  them 
again  and  again  before  I  let  them  loose.  You  shall 
hear  of  them  at  some  of  the  Friday  evenings ;  at 
present  I  must  not  say  more.  After  writing,  I  walk 
out  in  the  evening,  hand-in-hand  with  my  dear  wife,  to 
enjoy  the  sunset ;  for  to  me  who  love  scenery,  of  all 
that  I  have  seen  or  can  see  there  is  none  surpasses  that 
of  Heaven.  A  glorious  sunset  brings  with  it  a  thousand 
thoughts  that  delight  me.' 

Earlier  the  same  friend  asked  him,  for  the  first  time, 
to  dinner.     He  writes  from  Brighton  : — '  Your  note  is 


252  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  a  very  kind  one,  and  veiy  gratefully  received ;  I  wish 
JEx.58-59.  on  some  accounts  that  nature  had  given  me  habits  more 
fitted  to  thank  you  properly  for  it  by  acceptance  than 
those  which  really  belong  to  me.  In  the  present  case, 
however,  you  will  perceive  that  our  being  here  supplies 
an  answer  (something  like  a  lawyer's  objection)  without 
referring  to  the  greater  point  of  principle.  I  should 
have  been  very  sorry  in  return  for  your  kindness  to 
say  no  to  you  on  the  other  ground,  and  yet  I  fear  I 
should  have  been  constrained  to  do  so.' 

At  the  end  of  the  year  he  had  an  invitation  from 
the  Hon.  Colonel  Grey.  '  If  you  could  make  it  con- 
venient to  come  down  to  Windsor  any  afternoon  in  the 
course  of  next  week,  it  would  give  His  Eoyal  Highness 
great  satisfaction  to  have  the  opportunity  of  having 
some  conversation  with  you  on  this  interesting  subject 
(the  magnetic  properties  of  oxygen).' 

A  letter  to  M.  de  la  Eive,  written  early  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  gives  a  summary  of  the  results  of  his 
discoveries  on  atmospheric  magnetism. 

FARADAY   TO   M.    DE   LA   RIVE. 

«  Royal  Institution  :  February  4,  185]. 

'  My  dear  de  la  Eive, — My  wife  and  I  were  exceedingly 
sorry  to  hear  of  your  sad  loss :  it  brought  vividly  to 
our  remembrance  the  time  when  we  were  at  your  house, 
and  you  and  others  with  you  made  us  so  welcome. 
What  can  we  say  to  these  changes  but  that  they  show 
by  comparison  the  vanity  of  all  things  under  the  sun  ? 
I  am  very  glad  that  you  have  spirits  to  return  to  work 
again,  for  that  is  a  healthy  and  proper  employment  of 
the  mind  under  such  circumstances. 


LETTEES   DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OP  HIS   RESEARCHES.  253 

1  With  respect  to  my  views  and  experiments,  I  do  i860, 
not  think  that  anything  shorter  than  the  papers  (and  ^.53-59. 
they  will  run  to  a  hundred  pages  in  the  "  Transactions  ") 
will  give  you  possession  of  the  subject ;  because  a  great 
deal  depends  upon  the  comparison  of  observations  in 
different  parts  of  the  world  with  the  facts  obtained  by  ex- 
periment and  with  the  deductions  drawn  from  them :  but 
I  will  try  to  give  you  an  idea  of  the  root  of  the  matter. 
You  are  aware  that  I  use  the  phrase  line  of  magnetic 
force,  to  represent  the  presence  of  magnetic  force,  and 
the  direction  (of  polarity)  in  which  it  is  exerted ;  and  by 
the  idea  which  it  conveys  one  obtains  very  well,  and  I 
believe  without  error,  a  notion  of  the  distribution  of  the 
forces  about  a  bar-magnet,  or  between  near  flat  poles 
presenting  a  field  of  equal  force  ;  or  in  any  other  case. 
Now,  if  circumstances  be  arranged  so  as  to  present  a 
field  of  equal  force,  which  is  easily  done,  as  I  have  shown 
by  the  electro-magnet,  then  if  a  sphere  of  iron  or  nickel 
be  placed  in  the  field,  it  immediately  disturbs  the 
direction  of  the  lines  of  force,  for  they  are  concentrated 
within  the  sphere.  They  are,  however,  not  merely  con- 
centrated but  contorted ;  for  the  sum  of  forces  in  any 
one  section  across  the  field  is  always  equal  to  the  sum 
of  forces  in  any  other  section ;  and  therefore  their  con- 
densation in  the  iron  or  nickel  cannot  occur  without 
this  contortion.  Moreover,  the  contortion  is  easily  shown 
by  using  a  small  needle  (one-tenth  of  an  inch  long)  to 
examine  the  field :  for,  as  before  the  introduction  of  the 
sphere  of  iron  or  nickel,  it  would  always  take  up  a  posi- 
tion parallel  to  itself ;  afterwards  it  varies  in  position  in 
different  places  near  the  sphere.  This  being  understood, 
let  us  then  suppose  the  sphere  to  be  raised  in  tempera- 
ture ;  at  a  certain  temperature  it  begins  to  lose  its  power 


254  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  of  affecting  the  lines  of  magnetic  force,  and  ends  by 
^Ej.58-59.  retaining  scarcely  any;  so  that  as  regards  the  little 
needle  mentioned  above,  it  now  stands  everywhere 
parallel  to  itself  within  the  field  of  force.  This  change 
occurs  with  iron  at  a  very  high  temperature,  and  is 
passed  through  within  the  compass,  apparently,  of  a 
small  number  of  degrees :  with  nickel  it  occurs  at 
much  lower  temperatures,  being  affected  by  the  heat  of 
boiling  oil. 

'  Now  take  another  step.  Oxygen,  as  I  showed  above 
three  years  ago  in  the  "  Philosophical  Magazine  "  for 
1847,  vol.  xxxi.  pp.  410,  15,  16,  is  magnetic  in  relation 
to  nitrogen  and  other  gases.  E.  Becquerel,  without 
knowing  of  my  results,  has  confirmed  and  extended 
them  in  his  paper  of  last  year,  and  given  certain  excellent 
measures.  In  my  paper  of  1847  I  showed  also  that 
oxygen  (like  iron  and  nickel)  lost  its  magnetic  power 
and  its  ability  of  being  attracted  by  the  magnet  when 
heated,  p.  417  ;  and  I  further  showed  that  the  tempera- 
tures at  which  this  took  place  were  within  the  range  of 
common  temperature  ;  for  the  oxygen  of  the  air,  i.e.  the 
air  altogether,  increased  in  magnetic  power  when  cooled 
to  0°  F.  p.  406.  Now  I  must  refer  you  to  the  papers 
themselves  for  the  (to  me)  strange  results  of  the  incom- 
pressibility  (magnetically  speaking)  of  oxygen  and  the 
inexpansibility  of  nitrogen  and  other  gases;  for  the 
description  of  a  differential  balance  by  which  I  can 
compare  gas  with  gas,  or  the  same  gas  at  different 
degrees  of  rarefaction;  for  the  determination  of  the 
true  zero,  or  point  between  magnetic  and  diamagnetic 
bodies ;  and  for  certain  views  of  magnetic  conduction 
and  polarity.  You  will  there  find  described  certain 
very  delicate  experiments  upon  diamagnetic  and  very 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  255 

weak  magnetic  bodies  concerning  their  action  on  each  1850. 
other  in  a  magnetic  field  of  equal  force ;  the  magnetic  jEx.58-59. 
bodies  repel  each  other,  and  the  diamagnetic  bodies 
repel  each  other :  but  a  magnetic  and  a  diamagnetic 
body  attract  each  other ;  and  these  results,  combined 
with  the  qualities  of  oxygen,  as  just  described,  convince 
me  that  it  is  able  to  deflect  the  lines  of  magnetic  force 
passing  through  it  just  as  iron  or  nickel  is,  but  to  an 
infinitely  smaller  amount ;  and,  that  its  power  of 
deflecting  the  lines  varies  with  its  temperature  and 
degree  of  rarefaction. 

'  Then  comes  in  the  consideration  of  the  atmosphere 
and  the  manner  in  which  it  rises  and  falls  in  tem- 
perature by  the  presence  and  absence  of  the  sun. 
The  place  of  the  great  warm  region  nearly  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood ; — of  the  two  colder  regions  which  grow  up 
and  diminish  in  the  northern  and  southern  hemispheres 
as  the  sun  travels  between  the  tropics ; — the  effect  of 
the  extra  warmth  of  the  northern  hemisphere  over  the 
southern ; — the  effect  of  accumulation  from  the  action  of 
preceding  months  ; — the  effect  of  dip  and  mean  decli- 
nation at  each  particular  station ; — the  effects  that  follow 
from  the  noncoincidence  of  magnetic  and  astronomical 
conditions  of  polarity,  meridians,  and  so  forth ; — the 
results  of  the  distribution  of  land  and  water  for  any  given 
place ; — for  all  these  and  many  other  things  I  must 
refer  you  to  the  papers.  I  could  not  do  them  justice 
in  any  account  that  a  letter  could  contain,  and  should 
run  the  risk  of  leading  you  into  error  regarding  them. 
But  I  may  say  that,  deducing  from  the  experiments  and 
the  theory  what  are  the  deviations  of  the  magnetic 
needle  at  any  given  station,  which  may  be  expected  as 
the  mean  result  of  the  heating  and  cooling  of  the 


256  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  atmosphere  for  a  given  season  and  hour,  I  find  such  a 
Zte]£49.  general  accordance  with  the  results  of  observations, 
especially  in  the  direction  and  generally  in  the  amount 
for  different  seasons  of  the  declination  variation,  as  to 
give  me  the  strongest  hopes  that  I  have  assigned  the 
true  physical  cause  of  those  variations,  and  shown 
the  modus  operandi  of  their  production. 

*  And  now,  my  dear  de  la  Eive,  I  must  leave  you 
and  run  to  other  matters.     As  soon  as  I  can  send  you 
a  copy  of  the  papers  I  will  do  so,  and  can  only  say  I 
hope  that  they  will  meet  with  your  approbation.     With 
the  kindest  remembrances  to  your  son, 

*  Believe  me  to  be,  my  dear  friend,  ever  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  reported  on  the  adulteration  of  white  lead  for  the 
Trinity  House. 

He  did  as  much  work  as  usual  for  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion. 

He  gave  a  Friday  discourse  on  the  electricity  of  the 
air ;  and  another  on  certain  conditions  of  freezing 
water.  In  his  notes  he  says :  '  Perfect  expulsion  of  salts, 
acids,  alkalies  in  freezing,  and  hence  the  pure  condition 
of  ice,  and  the  same  mass  may  by  virtue  of  the  solidify- 
ing power  at  places  of  contact  be  freezing  at  the  inside 
and  thawing  at  the  outside,  i.e.  freezing  and  thawing  at 
the  same  temperature — and  even  that  the  freezing  process 
in  the  inside  may  be  a  thawing  process  to  the  outside 
by  the  evolution,  conduction,  and  absorption  of  the  heat 
concerned.' 

After  Easter,  he  gave  a  course  of  six  lectures  upon 
some  points  of  domestic  chemical  philosophy — a  fire, 
a  caudle,  a  lamp,  a  chimney,  a  kettle,  ashes.  In  his 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  257 

notes  on  a  lamp,  he  says  of  gas:  'The  system  of  its  1850. 
manufacture  and  supply  is  wonderful,  and  to  many  JET.  58. 
of  us  still  alive  is  like  the  realisation  of  the  most 
extravagant  imaginings  of  fairy  land  :  yet  how  com- 
monplace or  slight  is  the  impression  it  makes  now. 
Cannot  we,  who  are  urged  to  move  forward  by  the 
prizes  set  before  us,  consider  what  great  things  may  be 
coming  over  us,  founded  on  the  powers  already  manifest 
in  the  natural  creation,  which  yet,  if  presented  to  our 
minds  clearly  and  at  once,  would  even  in  our  instructed 
days  still  appear  as  the  wildest  creations  of  fancy? 
There  is  nothing  more  strange  in  the  human  mind  than 
the  manner  in  which  a  little  familiarity  in  thought 
reduces  the  highest  and  the  most  important  of  truths  to 
the  dull  no-interest  of  every-day  commonplace.'  Nearly 
his  last  note  of  the  course  is  :  '  May  conclude  with  the 
full  conviction  that  the  little  that  is  known  is  a  great  and 
wonderful  indication  of  that  which  is  to  be  known.' 

Four  letters  to  Professor  Schonbein,  chiefly  regarding 
a  Friday  evening  discourse  on  ozone,  show  how  he 
worked  for  the  Institution,  and  show  also  his  kindness 
and  energy. 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN 

(who  was  at  this  time  wishing  Faraday  to  bring  the 
subject  of  ozone  before  the  members  of  the  Eoyal 
Institution). 

<  Royal  Institution  :  May  11,  1850. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — But  now  my  thoughts  are  on 
ozone.  I  like  your  idea  of  an  evening  here,  but  it  can- 
not be  this  season,  for  the  arrangements  are  full.  Yet 
that  in  some  degree  suits  me  better,  for  though  I  should 
like  to  give  it,  I  am  a  slow  man  (through  want  of 

VOL.  IL  s 


258  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  memory),  and  therefore  require  preparation.  Now  I 
^T.  59.  shall  look  up  your  letters  and  re-read  them,  and  also  the 
papers ;  but  let  me  pray  you  to  send  me  a  list  of  the 
experiments  which  you  know  to  suit  a  large  audience. 
Also,  if  you  can,  the  references  to  the  best  French  (or 
English)  papers  giving  an  account  of  its  development 
and  progress.  Also  your  present  view ;  also  the  best 
and  quickest  mode  of  making  ozonised  air,  and  such 
other  information  as  I  shall  need.  Probably  other 
matters  will  arise  before  1851,  and  I  will  get  possession 
of  it  as  we  go  along.  If  you  come  over  here  you  shall 
give  the  subject  yourself,  i.e.  if  you  can  arrange  and 
keep  to  time,  &c. ;  if  not,  I  must  do  my  best.  But  every 
year  I  need  more  cramming,  even  for  my  own  particular 
subjects.  Now  do  not  delay  to  send  me  the  list  of 
experiments  because  you  suppose  there  is  plenty  of 
time,  &c.,  but  let  me  have  them,  that  I  may  think  over 
them  during  the  vacation.  I  should  like  to  do  the 
matter  to  my  own  satisfaction  ;  there  are,  however,  very 
few  things  in  which  I  satisfy  myself  now.  I  hoped  to 
have  had  a  paper  to  send  you  ere  this,  but  Taylor  is 
slow  in  printing. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Friend,  yours  truly, 

1 M.  FARADAY.' 

He  shortly  mentions  his  own  discoveries  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Professor  Schonbein. 

FAEADAY   TO   PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

'•Royal  Institution  :  November  19,  1860. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — I  wish  I  could  talk  with  you 
instead  of  being  obliged  to  use  pen  and  paper.  I  have 
fifty  matters  to  speak  about,  but  either,  they  are  too 


LETTERS  DURIXG  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  259 

trifling  for  writing,  or  too  important ;  for  what  can  one 
discuss  or  say  in  a  letter  ?  Where  is  the  question  and 
answer,  and  explanation  that  brings  out  clear  notions 
in  a  few  minutes?  whilst  letters  only  make  them 
more  obscure,  because  one  cannot  speak  freely  one's 
notions,  and  yet  guard  them  merely  as  notions.  But  I 
am  fast  losing  my  time  and  yours  too.  I  received  your 
complimentary  kindness,  and  like  it  the  better  because 
I  know  it  to  be  as  real  as  complimentary.  Thanks  to 
you,  my  dear  friend,  for  all  your  feelings  of  good  will 
towards  me.  The  bleachings  by  light  and  air  are  very 
excellent.  I  see  a  report  of  part  of  your  paper  in  the 
account  of  the  Swiss  Association,  but  not  of  the  latter 
part.  However,  a  friend  has  your  paper  in  hand,  and  I 
hope  to  have  the  part  about  atmospheric  electricity  soon 
sent  to  me.  I  should  be  very  glad  indeed  to  have  from 
any  one,  and  above  all  from  you,  a  satisfactory  sugges- 
tion on  that  point.  I  know  of  none  as  yet. 

'  By  the  bye,  I  have  been  working  with  the  oxygen 
of  the  air  also.  You  remember  that  three  years  ago  I 
distinguished  it  as  a  magnetic  gas  in  my  paper  on  the 
diamagnetism  of-  flame  and  gases  founded  on  Bancalari's 
experiment.  Now  I  find  in  it  the  cause  of  all  the 
annual  and  diurnal,  and  many  of  the  irregular,  varia- 
tions in  the  terrestrial  magnetism.  The  observations 
made  at  Hobarton,  Toronto,  Greenwich,  St.  Petersburg, 
Washington,  St.  Helena,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
Singapore,  all  appear  to  me  to  accord  with  and  support 
my  hypothesis.  I  will  not  pretend  to  give  you  an 
account  of  it  here,  for  it  would  require  some  detail,  and 
I  really  am  weary  of  the  subject.  I  have  sent  in  three 
long  papers  to  the  Koyfd  Society,  and  you  shall  have 
copies  of  them  in  due  time,  and  reports  probably  much 
s  2 


260  LIFE   OF   FAKADAY. 

sooner  in   "  Taylor's   Magazine."     I  forwarded    you 
packets  immediately  on  the  receipt  of  them. 

'  But  now  about  ozone.  I  was  in  hopes  you  would  let 
me  have  a  list  of  points  with  reference  to  where  I 
should  find  the  account  in  either  English  or  French 
journals,  and  also  a  list  of  about  twenty  experiments  fit 
for  an  audience  of  500  or  600  persons  ;  telling  me 
what  sized  bottles  to  make  ozone  by  phosphorus  in,  the 
time,  and  necessary  caution,  &c.  &c.  My  bad  memory 
would  make  it  a  terrible  and  almost  impossible  task,  to 
search  from  the  beginning  and  read  up ;  whereas  you, 
who  keep  all  you  read  or  discover  with  the  utmost 
facility,  could  easily  jot  me  down  the  real  points.  If 
you  refer  to  any  such  notes  in  your  last  letter  when 
you  ask  me  whether  I  have  received  a  memoir  on 
ozone,  and  some  other  things,  then  I  have  not  received 
any  such  notes,  and  I  cannot — indeed  I  cannot — re- 
member about  the  memoir. 

'  I  was  expecting  some  such  notes,  and  I  still  think 
you  mean  to  send  me  them,  and  though  I  may  perhaps 
not  give  ozone  as  an  evening  before  Easter,  still  do  not 
delay  to  let  me  have  them,  because  I  am  slow,  and  losing 
much  that  I  read  of,  have  to  imbibe  a  matter  two  or 
three  times  over,  and  if  I  do  ozone  I  should  like  to  do  it 
well. 

'  My  dear  wife  wishes  to  be  remembered  to  you,  and 
I  wish  most  earnestly  to  be  brought  to  Madame  Schon- 
bein's  mind,  though  vaguely  I  cling  to  the  remembrance 
of  an  hour  or  two  out  of  Bale  at  your  house ;  and  though 
I  cannot  recall  the  circumstances  clearly  to  my  mind, 
I  still  endeavour  again  and  again  to  realise  the  idea. 

« Ever,  my  dear  Schb'nbein,  most  truly  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  261 

To  Professor  Schonbein  he  again  writes  on  atmo-     i860, 
spheric  magnetism.  ^ErTsgT 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

1  Brighton :  December  9,  1850. 

*  My  dear  Schonbein, — I  have  just  read  your  letter 
dated  July  9,  1850,  exactly  six  months  after  it  was 
written.  I  received  the  parcel  containing  it  just  as  I 
was  leaving  London,  and  I  do  not  doubt  it  was  in  con- 
sequence of  your  moving  upon  the  receipt  of  my  last 
to  you  a  few  weeks  ago.  Thanks,  thanks,  my  dear 
friend,  for  all  your  kindness.  I  have  the  ozonometer, 
and  the  summary,  and  all  the  illustrative  packages  safe, 
and  though  I  have  read  only  the  letter  as  yet  I  see 
there  is  a  great  store  of  matter  and  pleasure  for  me. 

4  As  to  your  theory  of  atmospheric  electricity,  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you  put  it  forward ;  of  course  such  a 
proposition  has  to  dwell  in  one's  mind,  that  the  idea 
may  be  compared  with  other  ideas,  and  the  judgment 
become  gradually  matured  ;  for  it  is  not  like  the  idea 
of  a  new  compound  which  the  balance  and  qualitative 
experiments  may  rapidly  establish.  Still,  as  I  study 
and  think  over  your  account  of  ozone  and  isolated 
oxygen,  so  I  shall  gradually  be  able  to  comprehend 
and  imbibe  the  idea.  Even  as  it  is,  I  think  it  is  as 
good  as  any,  and  much  better  than  the  far  greater 
number  of  hypotheses  which  have  been  sent  forth  as  to 
the  physical  cause  of  atmospheric  electricity ;  and  some 
very  good  men  have  in  turns  had  a  trial  at  the  matter : 
in  fact,  the  point  is  a  very  high  and  a  very  glorious 
one ;  we  ought  to  understand  it,  and  I  shall  rejoice  if 
it  is  you  that  have  hold  of  the  end  of  the  subject.  You 
will  soon  pull  it  clearly  into  sight. 


262  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  '  As  I  told  you  in  rny  last,  I  must  talk  about  atrno- 
&T.  59.  spheric  magnetism  in  my  Friday  evening  before  Easter, 
and  I  am  glad  that  ozone  will  fall  in  the  summer 
months,  because  I  should  like  to  produce  some  of  the 
effects  here.  I  think  I  told  you  in  my  last  how  that 
oxygen  in  the  atmosphere,  which  I  pointed  out  three 
years  ago  in  my  paper  on  flame  and  gases  as  so  very 
magnetic  compared  with  other  gases,  is  now  to  me  the 
source  of  all  the  periodical  variations  of  terrestrial  mag- 
netism ;  and  so  I  rejoice  to  think  and  talk  at  the  same 
tune  of  your  results,  which  deal  also  with  that  same 
atmospheric  oxygen.  What  a  wonderful  body  it  is. 
'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours  faithfully, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  again  writes  to  Professor  Schonbein  on  the 
subject  of  ozone : — 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

'  Brighton  :  December  13,  1850. 

'  It  will  be  very  strange  if  I  do  not  make  your 
subject  interesting.  I  have  gone  twice  through  the  MS. 
and  the  illustrations.  Both  are  beautiful.  As  soon  as 
I  reach  home  I  shall  begin  to  prepare  for  ozone, 
making  and  repeating  your  experiments.  This  morning 
I  hung  out  at  my  window  one  of  the  ozonometer  slips. 
That  was  about  two  hours  ago.  Now  when  I  moisten 
it,  a  tint  of  blue  comes  out  between  Nos.  4  and  5  of  the 
scale.  Though  I  face  the  sea  and  have  the  wind  on 
shore,  still  I  am  not  aware  that  the  spray  can  do  this 
or  anything  that  comes  from  the  sea  water ;  but  before 
I  send  off  this  letter  I  shall  go  down  and  try  the  sea 
itself. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  263 

'  Well,  I  have  been  to  the  seaside,  and  the  sea  water      i860. 
does  nothing  of  the  kind,  nor  the  spray  ;  but  as  I  walk  ^T.58-59. 
on  the  shore,  holding  a  piece  of  the  test-paper  in  iny 
hand  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  at  the  end  of  that  time 
it,  by  moistening,  shows  a  pale  blue  effect. 

1  That  which  is  up  at  my  window  has  been  out  in 
the  air  four  hours,  and  it,  when  wetted,  comes  out  a 
strong  blue  tint,  as  No.  6  of  the  scale.  The  day  is  dry 
but  with  no  sun,  the  lower  region  pretty  clear  but 
clouds  above. 

4  After  reading  your  notes  and  examining  the  illus- 
trations, I  could  not  resist  writing  to  you,  though,  as 
you  see,  I  have  nothing  to  say. 

'  Ever  truly  yours, 

'M.FARADAY.' 

II. 

This  year  he  was  made  Corresponding  Associate  of 
the  Accademia  Pontinca,  Eome,  and  Foreign  Associate 
of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  Haarlem. 

An  interesting  letter  from  M.  Quetelet,  and  one  of 
Faraday's  to  M.  Becquerel,  show  the  position  which  he 
held  in  science. 

M.    QUETELET   TO    FARADAY. 

'  Bruxelles,  le  9  septembre  1850. 

'  Monsieur  et  tres-illustre  confrere, — Je  me  suis  apercu 
avec  un  regret  infini  que  vous  n'avez  pas  encore  recu 
le  diplome  d'associe  de  notre  academic.  M.  le  docteur 
Pincoffs,  qui  passe  par  Londres,  a  bien  voulu  se  charger 
de  reparer  cette  negligence  de  la  personne  qui  aurait 
du  vous  faire  parvenir  ce  diplome  depuis  longtemps. 
J'y  joins  deux  volumes  des  dernieres  publications  de 
notre  academic,  qui  vous  sont  destines. 


264  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  '  Je  suis  tres-heureux  de  trouver  cette  occasion  pour 
^T.  ogf  vous  exprimer  mes  sentiments  de  haute  estime  et  ma 
reconnaissance  pour  toutes  les  bontes  que  vous  ne 
cessez  de  me  temoigner.  Vos  encouragements  ont  ete 
pour  moi  les  plus  precieuses  recompenses  que  je  pusse 
ambitionner,  et  vous  me  les  avez  toujours  prodigues 
avec  la  plus  grande  bienveillance. 

1  Vous  m'avez  montre  un  recueil  tres-precieux  de 
portraits  de  personnes  auxquelles  vous  portez  de  1'af- 
fection.  II  y  aurait,  peut-etre,  de  la  fatuite  a  vous 
demander  une  place  aupres  d'elles  ;  si,  cependant,  vous 
n'y  voyez  pas  trop  d'outrecuidance,  permettez-moi  de 
vous  oflrir  un  exemplaire  d'un  de  mes  portraits,  dessine 
par  mon  beau-frere.  Je  serais  heureux  surtout  s'il  pou- 
vait  me  valoir  en  retour  le  portrait  d'un  des  hommes 
dont  j  'estime  le  plus  le  talent  et  le  noble  caractere. 

'  Agreez,  je  vous  prie,  mon  cher  et  illustre  confrere, 
mes  compliments  les  plus  distingues  et  les  plus  affectueux. 

4  QDETELET.' 

To  M.  Becquerel,  who  wrote  to  him  regarding  the 
magnetism  of  oxygen,  he  replied  : — 

FARADAY   TO   M.    BECQUEREL. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  December  30,  1860. 

'My  dear  Sir, — It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I 
receive  a  letter  from  you,  for  much  as  I  have  thought 
of  your  name  and  the  high  scientific  labours  connected 
with  it,  I  do  not  remember  that  I  have  seen  your  hand- 
writing before.  I  shall  treasure  the  letter  in  a  certain 
volume  of  portraits  and  letters  that  I  keep  devoted  to  the 
personal  remembrance  of  the  eminent  men  who  adorn 


LETTEES  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  265 

i-'science  whom  I  have  more  or  less  the  honour  and  delight      i860, 
of  being  acquainted  with.  "1^59* 

'  In  reference  to  the  queries  in  your  letter,  I  suppose 
the  following  will  be  sufficient  answer. 

'  I  developed  and  published  the  nature  and  principles 
of  the  action  of  magnetic  and  diamagnetic  media  upon 
substances  in  them,  more  or  less  magnetic  or  diamag- 
netic than  themselves,  in  the  year  1845,  or  just  Jive  years 
ago.  The  paper  was  read  at  the  Eoyal  Society, 
January  8, 1846,  and  is  contained  in  the  "  Philosophical 
Transactions  "  for  1846,  p.  50,  &c.  If  you  refer  to  the 
numbered  paragraphs  2357,  2363,  2367,  2400k,  2406, 
2414,  2423,  2438,  you  wiU  see  at  once  how  far  I  had 
gone  at  that  date.  The  papers  were  republished  in 
Poggendorf 's  "  Annalen,"  and  I  believe  in  the  Geneva, 
the  Italian,  and  German  journals  in  one  form  or 
another. 

'In  reference  to  the  magnetism  of  oxygen,  three 
years  ago,  i.e.  in  1847,  I  showed  its  high  magnetic 
character  in  relation  to  nitrogen  and  all  other  gases, 
and  that  air  owed  its  place  amongst  them  to  the  oxygen 
it  contained.  I  even  endeavoured  to  analyse  the  air, 
separating  its  oxygen  and  nitrogen  by  magnetic  force, 
for  I  thought  such  a  result  possible.  All  this  you  will 
find  in  a  paper  published  in  the  "  Philosophical  Maga- 
zine," for  1847,  vol.  xxxi.  page  401,  &c.  This  paper 
was  also  published  at  full  length  in  PoggendorfTs  "  An- 
nalen," 1848,  vol.  Ixxiii.  page  256,  &c.  I  shall  send 
you  a  copy  of  it  immediately  by  M.  Bailliere,  who  has 
undertaken  to  forward  it  to  you.  I  have  marked  it  in 
ink  to  direct  your  attention.  In  it  also  you  will  find 
the  effect  of  heat  on  oxygen  and  air ;  the  experiments 
were  all  devised  and  made  upon  the  principles  before 


266  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.     developed,  concerning  the  mutual  relation  of  substances 
jET.58-59.  and  the  media  surrounding  them. 

4  This  year  I  have  been  busy  extending  the  above 
researches,  and  have  sent  in  several  papers  to  the  Eoyal 
Society,  and  have  also  given  a  Bakerian  lecture  in  which 
they  were  briefly  summed  up.  I  fortunately  have  a  copy 
in  slips  of  the  Eoyal  Society's  abstract  of  these  papers, 
and  therefore  will  send  it  with  the  paper  from  the  "  Phi- 
losophical Magazine."  I  suppose  it  will  appear  in  the 
outcoming  number  of  the  "Philosophical  Magazine." 
The  papers  themselves  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
printer  of  the  "  Transactions." 

'  I  was  not  aware,  until  lately,  of  that  paper  of  M. 
Edmond  Becquerel,  to  which  you  first  refer.  My  health 
and  occupation  often  prevent  me  from  reading  up  to 
the  present  state  of  science.  Immediately  that  I  knew 
of  it,  I  added  a  note  (by  permission)  to  my  last  paper, 
series  xxvi.,  in  which  I  referred  to  it,  and  quoted  at 
length  what  it  said  in  reference  to  atmospheric  mag- 
netism, calling  attention  also  to  my  own  results  as  to 
oxygen  three  years  ago,  and  those  respecting  media 
five  years  ago.  I  have  no  copy  of  this  note,  or 
I  would  send  it  to  you.  It  was  manifest  to  me  that 
M.  Edmond  Becquerel  had  never  heard  of  my  results, 
and  though  that  makes  no  excuse  to  myself,  I  hope  it 
will  be  to  him  a  palliation  that  I  had  not  before  heard 
of  his.  The  second  one  I  had  not  heard  of  until  I 
received  your  letter  the  day  before  yesterday. 

'  I  was  exceedingly  struck  with  the  beauty  of  M. 
E.  Becquerel's  experiments,  and  though  the  differential 
balance  I  have  described  in  my  last  paper  will,  I  expect, 
give  me  far  more  delicate  indications,  when  the  perfect 
one,  which  is  in  hand,  is  completed,  still  I  cannot 


LETTERS  BUSING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  267 

express   too   freely  my   praise  of  the  apparatus  and      1850. 
results  which  the  first  paper  describes  and  which  is  ^1.58-59. 
probably  surpassed  by  those  in  the  second. 

'I  know  the  severe  choice  of  your  Academy  of 
Sciences,  and  I  also  know  that  France  has  ever  been 
productive  of  men  who  deserve  to  stand  as  candidates, 
whenever  a  vacancy  occurs  in  any  branch  of  knowledge  ; 
and  though,  as  you  perceive,  I  do  not  know  all  that  M.  E. 
Becquerel  has  done,  I  know  enough  to  convince  me  that  he 
deserves  the  honour  of  standing  in  that  body  and  to  create 
in  me  strong  hopes  that  he  will  obtain  his  place  there. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  M.  Becquerel,  your  faithful  admirer, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

III. 

Letters  to  Miss  Martineau,  Dr.  du  Bois  Eaymond, 
Dr.  Tyndall,  and  Professor  Oersted,  show  his  truthful- 
ness, his  kindness,  and  his  thoughtfulness  in  his  ordinary 
correspondence,  by  which  he  gained  always  the  good- 
will and  often  the  affection  of  those  who  were  person- 
ally unknown  to  him. 

FARADAY    TO   DR.    DU   BOIS   RAYMOND. 

'  Koyal  Institution  :  January  15,  1850. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  this  day  received  your  kind  present  of 
books — your  great  work — and  also  the  letter.  I  regret 
that  I  have  no  better  thanks  to  offer  you  than  those  of 
a  man  who  cannot  estimate  the  work  properly.  I  look 
with  regret  at  the  pages,  which  are  to  me  a  sealed 
book ;  and,  but  that  increasing  infirmities  too  often 
warn  me  off,  I  would  even  now  attack  the  language 
of  science  and  knowledge,  for  such  the  German  lan- 
guage is. 


268  LIFE    OF   FAEADAT. 

1850.  'Mr.  Magnus,  whom  I  rejoice  to  call  a  friend,  told 
jET.58-59.  me  of  your  great  experiment,  in  which,  from  the  mus- 
cular excitement  of  the  living  human  being,  you  obtained 
a  current  of  electricity.  I  endeavoured,  a  few  months 
ago,  to  procure  the  result,  but  did  not  succeed.  No 
doubt,  being  unacquainted  with  all  the  precautions 
needful,  and  the  exact  manner  of  proceeding,  I  was  at 
fault.  And  now  I  am  so  engaged  by  the  duties  of  my 
station  and  the  season,  that  I  have  no  time  for  any- 
thing else.  During  the  season  I  trust  to  pick  up  the 
information  that  will  give  me  success  the  next  time 
that  I  try. 

'The  second  copy  of  your  work  is  already  on  the 
road  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  and  I  shall  do  all  I  can  to 
direct  the  attention  of  men  of  science  and  others  to  the 
copy  you  have  sent  me,  by  placing  it  before  them  on 
the  tables  of  this  Institution. 

'  I  am,  Sir,  your  very  obliged  and  grateful  servant, 

'M.  FAKADAY.' 


FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  OERSTED. 

'  Royal  Institution :  March  15,  1850. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  received  your  very  kind  letter 
two  or  three  weeks  ago,  and  was  very  greatly  gratified 
that  you  should  remember  me. 

4  This  is  a  time  of  the  year  in  which  formal  matters 
occupy  me  so  much,  that  (together  with  a  system  soon 
wearied)  they  prevent  me  from  working  to  any  good 
purpose  ;  so  that  I  have  little  or  nothing  to  say. 

4 1  have,  it  is  true,  sent  a  paper  to  the  Eoyal  Society,1 

1  Twenty-third  series,  on  polar  or  other  condition  of  diamaguetic  bodie*. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  269 

two  or  three  months  ago,  which  was  read  lately  ;  and     1850. 
in  it  I  describe  my  failure  to  produce  the  results  of    ^ET.  58. 
Weber,  Eeich,  and  some  others,  or  (of  such  as  were 
produced)  my  reference  of  them  to  other  principles  of 
action  than  those  they  had  adopted.     This  branch  of 
science  is  in  a  very  active  and  promising  state.     Many 
men — and  amongst  them  yourself — are  working  at  it, 
and  it  is  not  wonderful  that  views  differ  at  first. 

'  Time  will  gradually  sift  and  shape  them,  and  I 
believe  that  we  have  little  idea  at  present  of  the  im- 
portance they  may  have  ten  or  twenty  years  hence. 

'  As  soon  as  my  paper  is  printed  I  shall  send  it  to 
you,  and,  I  hope,  with  copies  of  those  you  have  not 
received.  I  thought  I  had  sent  you  all  in  order  ;  for 
it  was  to  me  a  delight  to  think  I  might  do  so.  I  do 
not  know  what  can  have  come  in  the  way  of  them  ;  but 
if  I  have  copies  left,  you  shall  have  them  with  the 
next  paper. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  your  very  obliged  and  faithful 
servant, 

<M.  FARADAY.' 

He  writes  the  following  letter  regarding  the  produc- 
tion of  the  Acarus  Crossii  by  electricity. 

FARADAY   TO   MISS   MARTINEAU. 

'  Koyal  Institution  :  April  11,  1850. 

'  My  dear  Madam, — I  am  sorry  to  find  that  in  your 
great  work  you  have  been  led,  at  p.  417,  vol.  ii.,  into 
an  error  respecting  me  by  an  authority  which  you 
might  well  think  sufficient,  but  which  is  inaccurate.  I 
cannot  understand  how  the  error  arose  at  first ;  but  it 


270  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1850.  appeared  in  the  papers,  and  I  found  it  necessary,  in  a 
S.7^69.  letter  to  the  Editor  of  the  "  Literary  Gazette,"  March  4, 
1837,  page  147,  to  correct  it.  The  error  probably  passed 
from  the  papers  into  the  "  Annual  Eegister,"  and  from 
that  into  the  far  more  important  position  it  holds  in 
your  History. 

'  I  hope  you  will  forgive  me  for  writing  to  you  about 
this  matter.  I  feel  it  a  great  honour  to  be  borne  on 
your  remembrance,  but  I  would  not  willingly  be  there 
in  an  erroneous  point  of  view. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  dear  Madam,  with 
every  respect,  your  faithful,  humble  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

Miss  Martineau  replied  : 

'April  13. 

'  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  correcting  the 
mistake  in  my  History  regarding  your  countenance  of 
the  Acarus  Crossii.  .  .  . 

i  It  never  occurred  to  me  to  doubt  the  authority  of 
the  "  Annual  Eegister  "  in  a  matter  of  such  straight- 
forward contemporary  statement,  and  it  is  really  dif- 
ficult to  see  how  one  can  make  sure  of  one's  mate- 
rial. .  .  . 

'  Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir,  with  the  highest  respect, 
your  obliged, 

'HARRIET  MARTINEAU.' 

FARADAY  TO  JOHN  TYNDALL,  ESQ. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  19,  1850. 

4  Dear  Sir, — I  do  not  know  whether  this  letter  will 
find  you  at  Marburg,  but,  though  at  the  risk  of  missing 
you,  I  cannot  refrain  from  thanking  you  for  your 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  271 

kindness  in  sending  me  the  rhomboid  of  calcareous  1851. 
spar.  I  am  not  at  present  able  to  pursue  that  subject,  for  JE^SSMSO. 
I  am  deeply  engaged  in  terrestrial  magnetism ;  but  I 
hope  some  day  to  take  up  the  point  respecting  the 
magnetic  condition  of  associated  particles.  In  the 
meantime,  I  rejoice  at  every  addition  to  the  facts  and 
to  the  reasoning  connected  with  the  subject.  It  is 
wonderful  how  much  good  results  from  different  persons 
working  at  the  same  matter.  Each  one  gives  views 
and  ideas  new  to  the  rest.  When  science  is  a  republic, 
then  it  gains ;  and  though  I  am  no  republican  in  other 
matters,  I  am  in  that. 

'  With  many  thanks  for  your  kindness,  I  am,  Sir, 
your  very  obedient  servant, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

I. 

In  1851,  in  July,  September,  October,  November, 
and  December,  much  experimental  work  was  done  in 
the  laboratory.  The  results  were  sent  to  the  Eoyal 
Society  in  the  twenty-eighth  series  of  '  Eesearches '  on 
lines  of  magnetic  force,  their  definite  character,  and 
their  distribution  in  a  magnet  and  throughout  space ; 
and  in  the  twenty-ninth  series  on  the  employment  of 
the  induced  magneto-electric  current  as  a  test  and 
measure  of  magnetic  forces. 

Dr.  Tyndall's  account  of  the  relation  of  these  papers 
to  Faraday's  speculations  on  the  nature  of  matter  and 
lines  of  force  is  of  the  highest  interest,  as  it  sets  forth 
clearly  the  working  of  Faraday's  mind. 

Dr.  Tyndall  says  :  '  The  scientific  picture  of  Faraday 
would  not  be  complete  without  a  reference  to  his 
speculative  writings.  On  Friday,  January  19y  1844r 


272  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1851.  he  opened  the  weekly  evening-meetings  of  the  Koyal 
^T.5«M5o.  Institution  by  a  discourse  entitled  "  A  speculation  touch- 
ing Electric  Conduction  and  the  nature  of  Matter."  In 
this  discourse  he  not  only  attempts  the  overthrow  of 
Dalton's  theory  of  atoms,  but  also  the  subversion  of 
all  ordinary  scientific  ideas  regarding  the  nature  and 
relations  of  matter  and  force.  He  objected  to  the  use 
of  the  term  atom : — "  I  have  not  yet  found  a  mind," 
he  says,  "  that  did  habitually  separate  it  from  its  ac- 
companying temptations ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  words  definite  proportions,  equivalent,  primes, 
&c.,  which  did  and  do  fully  express  all  the  facts  of 
what  is  usually  called  the  atomic  theory  in  chemistry, 
were  dismissed  because  they  were  not  expressive 
enough,  and  did  not  say  all  that  was  in  the  mind 
of  him  who  used  the  word  atom  in  their  stead." 

*  He  then  tosses  the  atomic  theory  from  horn  to  horn 
of  his  dilemmas.  What  do  we  know,  he  asks,  of  the 
atom  apart  from  its  force  ?  You  imagine  a  nucleus 
which  may  be  called  a,  and  surround  it  by  forces  which 
may  be  called  m ;  "to  my  mind  the  a  or  nucleus 
vanishes,  and  the  substance  consists  in  the  powers  of 
m.  And,  indeed,  what  notion  can  we  form  of  the 
nucleus  independent  of  its  powers  ?  What  thought 
remains  on  which  to  hang  the  imagination  of  an  a 
independent  of  the  acknowledged  forces  ?  "  Like  Bosco- 
vich,  he  abolishes  the  atom  and  puts  a  "  centre  of  force  " 
in  its  place. 

'  With  his  usual  courage  and  sincerity,  he  pushes  his 
view  to  its  utmost  consequences.  "  This  view  of  the 
constitution  of  matter,"  he  continues,  "  would  seem  to 
involve  necessarily  the  conclusion  that  matter  fills  all 
space,  or  at  least  all  space  to  which  gravitation  extends ; 


THE  LATTER  PERIOD   OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  273 

for  gravitation  is  a  property  of  matter  dependent  on  a     1851. 
certain  force,  and  it  is  this  force  which  constitutes  the  ^Er.69-60. 
matter.     In  that  view,  matter  is  not  merely  mutually 
penetrable ; l  but  each  atom  extends,  so  to  say,  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  solar  system,  yet  always  retaining 
its  own  centre  of  force." 

'  It  is  the  operation  of  a  mind  filled  with  thoughts 
of  this  profound,  strange,  and  subtle  character  that  we 
have  to  take  into  account  in  dealing  with  Faraday's 
later  researches.  A  similar  cast  of  thought  pervades  a 
letter  addressed  by  Faraday  to  Mr.  Eichard  Phillips, 
and  published  in  the  "  Philosophical  Magazine  "  for 
May,  1846.  It  is  entitled  "Thoughts  on  Kay-vibra- 
tions," and  it  contains  one  of  the  most  singular  specula- 
tions that  ever  emanated  from  a  scientific  mind.  It 
must  be  remembered  here,  that  though  Faraday  lived 
amid  such  speculations,  he  did  not  rate  them  highly, 
and  that  he  was  prepared  at  any  moment  to  change 
them  or  let  them  go.  They  spurred  him  on,  but  they 
did  not  hamper  him.  His  theoretic  notions  were  fluent ; 
and  when  minds  less  plastic  than  his  own  attempted  to 
render  those  fluxional  images  rigid,  he  rebelled.  He 
warns  Phillips,  moreover,  that  from  first  to  last  "  he 
merely  threw  out  as  matter  for  speculation  the  vague 
impressions  of  his  mind ;  for  he  gave  nothing  as  the 
result  of  sufficient  consideration,  or  as  the  settled  con- 
viction, or  even  probable  conclusion  at  which  he  had 
arrived." 

'  The  gist  of  this  communication  is  that  gravitating 
force  acts  in  lines  across  space,  and  that  the  vibrations  of 

1  He  compares  the  interpenetration  of  two  atoms  to  the  coalescence  of 
two  distinct  wares,  which,  though  for  a  moment  blended  to  a  single 

preserve  their  individuality,  and  afterwards  separate. 
VOL.  II.  T 


274  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1851.  light  and  radiant  heat  consist  in  the  tremors  of  these 
jE-r.59-60.  lines  of  force.  "  This  notion,"  he  says,  "  as  far  as  it  is 
admitted,  will  dispense  with  the  ether,  which,  in  another 
view,  is  supposed  to  be  the  medium  in  which  these 
vibrations  take  place."  And  he  adds,  further  on,  that 
his  view  "  endeavours  to  dismiss  the  ether,  but  not  the 
vibrations."  The  idea  here  set  forth  is  the  natural 
supplement  of  his  previous  notion  that  it  is  gravitating 
force  which  constitutes  matter,  each  atom  extending, 
so  to  say,  throughout  the  whole  of  the  solar  system. 

'  The  letter  to  Mr.  Phillips  winds  up  with  this  beau- 
tiful conclusion  : — "  I  think  it  likely  that  I  have  made 
many  mistakes  in  the  preceding  pages,  for  even  to 
myself  my  ideas  on  this  point  appear  only  as  the  shadow 
of  a  speculation,  or  as  one  of  those  impressions  upon 
the  mind  which  are  allowable  for  a  time  as  guides  to 
thought  and  research.  He  who  labours  in  experimental 
inquiries,  knows  how  numerous  these  are,  and  how 
often  their  apparent  fitness  and  beauty  vanish  before 
the  progress  and  development  of  real  natural  truth." 

*  Let  it  then  be  remembered  that  Faraday  entertained 
notions  regarding  matter  and  force  altogether  distinct 
from  the  views  generally  held  by  scientific  men.  Force 
seemed  to  him  an  entity  dwelling  along  the  line  in 
which  it  is  exerted.  The  lines  along  which  gravity 
acts  between  the  sun  and  earth  seem  figured  in  his 
mind  as  so  many  elastic  strings  :  indeed,  he  accepts 
the  assumed  instantaneity  of  gravity  as  the  expression 
of  the  enormous  elasticity  of  the  "  lines  of  weight." 
Such  views,  fruitful  in  the  case  of  magnetism,  barren  as 
yet  in  the  case  of  gravity,  explain  his  efforts  to  trans- 
form this  latter  force.  When  he  goes  into  the  open 
air  and  permits  his  helices  to  fall,  to  his  mind's  eye 


THE    LATTER   PERIOD  OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL   RESEARCHES.  275 

they  are  tearing  through  the  lines  of  gravitating  power,  1851. 
and  hence  his  hope  and  conviction  that  an  effect  would 
and  ought  to  be  produced.  It  must  ever  be  borne  in 
mind  that  Faraday's  difficulty  in  dealing  with  these 
conceptions  was  at  bottom  the  same  a.s  that  of  Newton  ; 
that  he  is,  in  fact,  trying  to  overleap  this  difficulty,  and 
with  it  probably  the  limits  prescribed  to  the  intellect 
itself. 

*  The  idea  of  lines  of  magnetic  force  was  suggested 
to  Faraday  by  the  linear  arrangement  of  iron  filings 
when  scattered  over  a  magnet.  He  speaks  of,  and 
illustrates  by  sketches,  the  deflection,  both  convergent 
and  divergent,  of  the  lines  of  force,  when  they  pass 
respectively  through  magnetic  and  diamagnetic  bodies. 
These  notions  of  concentration  and  divergence  are  also 
based  on  the  direct  observation  of  his  filings.  So  long 
did  he  brood  upon  these  lines ;  so  habitually  did  he 
associate  them  with  his  experiments  on  induced  currents, 
that  the  association  became  "  indissoluble,"  and  he  could 
not  think  without  them.  "  I  have  been  so  accustomed," 
he  writes,  "  to  employ  them,  and  especially  in  my  last 
researches,  that  I  may  have  unwittingly  become  pre- 
judiced in  their  favour,  and  ceased  to  be  a  clear-sighted 
judge.  Still,  I  have  always  endeavoured  to  make  ex- 
periment the  test  and  controller  of  theory  and  opinion  ; 
but  neither  by  that  nor  by  close  cross-examination  in 
principle,  have  I  been  made  aware  of  any  error  involved 
in  their  use." 

'  In  his  later  researches  on  magne-crystallic  action, 
the  idea  of  lines  of  force  is  extensively  employed ;  it, 
indeed,  led  him  to  an  experiment  which  lies  at  the  root 
of  the  whole  question.  In  his  subsequent  researches 
on  atmospheric  magnetism,  the  idea  receives  still  wider 

T   2 


276  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1851.  application,  showing  itself  to  be  wonderfully  flexible  .. 
JETJ5JM50.  and  convenient.  Indeed,  without  this  conception,  the 
attempt  to  seize  upon  the  magnetic  actions,  possible  or 
actual,  of  the  atmosphere  would  be  difficult  in  the 
extreme  ;  but  the  notion  of  lines  of  force,  and  of  their 
divergence  and  convergence,  guides  Faraday  without 
perplexity  through  all  the  intricacies  of  the  question. 
After  the  completion  of  those  researches,  and  in  a  paper 
forwarded  to  the  Royal  Society  on  October  22,  1851, 
he  devotes  himself  to  the  formal  development  and  illus- 
tration of  his  favourite  idea.  The  paper  bears  the 
title  "  On  Lines  of  Magnetic  Force,  their  definite  cha- 
racter, and  their  distribution  within  a  magnet  and 
through  space."  A  deep  reflectiveness  is  the  cha- 
racteristic of  this  memoir.  In  his  experiments,  which 
are  perfectly  beautiful  and  profoundly  suggestive,  he 
takes  but  a  secondary  delight.  His  object  is  to  illustrate 
the  utility  of  his  conception  of  lines  of  force.  "  The 
study  of  these  lines,"  he  says,  "  has  at  different  times 
been  greatly  influential  in  leading  me  to  various  results 
which  I  think  prove  their  utility  as  well  as  fertility." 

4  Faraday  for  a  long  period  used  the  lines  of  force 
merely  as  "  a  representative  idea."  He  seemed  for  a 
time  averse  to  going  further  in  expression  than  the 
lines  themselves,  however  much  further  he  may  have 
gone  in  idea.  That  he  believed  them  to  exist  at  all 
times  round  a  magnet,  and  irrespective  of  the  existence 
of  magnetic  matter,  such  as  iron- filings,  external  to  the 
magnet,  is  certain.  No  doubt  the  space  round  every 
magnet  presented  itself  to  his  imagination  as  traversed 
by  loops  of  magnetic  power,  but  he  was  chary  in 
speaking  of  the  physical  substratum  of  those  loops. 
Indeed,  it  may  be  doubted  whether  the  physical  theory 


THE    LATTER   PERIOD  OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL    RESEARCHES.  277 

of  lines  of  force  presented  itself  with  any  distinctness  to  1851. 
his  own  mind.  The  possible  complicity  of  the  lumi-  ^Er.59-6o. 
niferous  ether  in  magnetic  phenomena  was  certainly  in 
his  thoughts.  "  How  the  magnetic  force,"  he  writes, 
"  is  transferred  through  bodies  or  through  space  we 
know  not :  whether  the  result  is  merely  action  at  a 
distance,  as  in  the  case  of  gravity ;  or  by  some  inter- 
mediate agency,  as  in  the  case  of  light,  heat,  the  electric 
current,  and  (as  I  believe)  static  electric  action.  The 
idea  of  magnetic  fluids,  as  applied  by  some,  or  of  mag- 
netic centres  of  action,  does  not  include  that  of  the 
latter  kind  of  transmission,  but  the  idea  of  lines  of  force 
does"  And  he  continues  thus  : — "  I  arn  more  inclined 
to  the  notion  that  in  the  transmission  of  the  [magnetic] 
force  there  is  such  an  action  [an  intermediate  agency] 
external  to  the  magnet,  than  that  the  effects  are  merely 
attraction  and  repulsion  at  a  distance.  Such  an  affec- 
tion may  be  a  function  of  the  ether:  for  it  is  not  at  all 
unlikely  that,  if  there  be  an  ether,  it  should  have  other 
uses  than  simply  the  conveyance  of  radiations.'"  When 
he  speaks  of  the  magnet  in  certain  cases  "revolving 
amongst  its  own  forces,"  he  appears  to  have  some  con- 
ception of  this  kind  in  view. 

'  A  great  part  of  the  investigation  completed  in  Oc- 
tober, 1851,  was  taken  up  with  the  motions  of  wires 
round  the  poles  of  a  magnet,  and  the  converse.  He 
carried  an  insulated  wire  along  the  axis  of  a  bar  magnet 
from  its  pole  to  its  equator,  where  it  issued  from  the 
magnet,  and  was  bent  up  so  as  to  connect  its  two  ends. 
A  complete  circuit,  no  part  of  which  was  in  contact 
with  the  magnet,  was  thus  obtained.  He  found  that 
when  the  magnet  and  the  external  wire  were  rotated 
together  no  current  was  produced;  whereas,  when 


278  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1851.  either  of  them  was  rotated,  and  the  other  left  at  rest, 
jET.59-60.  currents  were  evolved.  He  then  abandoned  the  axial 
wire,  and  allowed  the  magnet  itself  to  take  its  place ; 
the  result  was  the  same.1  It  was  the  relative  motion 
of  the  magnet  and  the  loop  that  was  effectual  in  pro- 
ducing a  current. 

'  The  lines  of  force  have  their  roots  in  the  magnet, 
and  though  they  may  expand  into  infinite  space,  they 
eventually  return  to  the  magnet.  Now,  these  lines 
may  be  intersected  close  to  the  magnet  or  at  a  distance 
from  it.  Faraday  finds  distance  to  be  perfectly  im- 
material so  long  as  the  number  of  lines  intersected  is 
the  same.  For  example,  when  the  loop  connecting  the 
equator  and  the  pole  of  his  bar-magnet  performs  one 
complete  revolution  round  the  magnet,  it  is  manifest 
that  all  the  lines  of  force  issuing  from  the  magnet  are 
once  intersected.  Now,  it  matters  not  whether  the 
loop  be  ten  feet  or  ten  inches  in  length,  it  matters  not 
how  it  may  be  twisted  and  contorted,  it  matters  not 
how  near  to  the  magnet,  or  how  distant  from  it  the 
loop  may  be,  one  revolution  always  produces  the  same 
amount  of  current  electricity,  because  in  all  these  cases 
all  the  lines  of  force  issuing  from  the  magnet  are  once 
intersected  and  no  more. 

4  From  the  external  portion  of  the  circuit  he  passes  in 
idea  to  the  internal,  and  follows  the  lines  of  force  into 
the  body  of  the  magnet  itself.  His  conclusion  is  that 
there  exist  lines  of  force  within  the  magnet  of  the 
same  nature  as  those  without.  What  is  more,  they 
are  exactly  equal  in  amount  to  those  without.  They 
have  a  relation  in  direction  to  those  without ;  and,  in 

1  In  this  form  the  experiment  is  identical  with  one  made  twenty  years 
earlier. 


THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES. 

fact,  are  continuations  of  them.  .  .  .  "Every  line  of     1851. 
force,  therefore,  at  whatever  distance  it  may  be  taken  JET.SQ-G 
from  the  magnet,  must  be  considered  as  a  closed  cir- 
cuit, passing  in  some  part  of  its  course  through  the 
magnet,  and  having  an  equal  amount  of  force  in  every 
part  of  its  course." 

'  All  the  results  here  described  were  obtained  with 
moving  metals.  "But,"  he  continues  with  profound 
sagacity,  "  mere  motion  would  not  generate  a  relation, 
which  had  not  a  foundation  in  the  existence  of  some 
previous  state  ;  and  therefore  the  quiescent  metals  must 
be  in  some  relation  to  the  active  centre  of  force,"  that 
is,  to  the  magnet.  He  here  touches  the  core  of  the 
whole  question,  and  when  we  can  state  the  condition  into 
which  the  conducting  wire  is  thrown  before  it  is  moved, 
we  shall  then  be  in  a  position  to  understand  the  phy- 
sical constitution  of  the  electric  current  generated  by 
its  motion. 

'  In  this  inquiry  Faraday  worked  with  steel  magnets, 
the  force  of  which  varies  with  the  distance  from  the 
magnet.  He  then  sought  a  uniform  field  of  magnetic 
force,  and  found  it  in  space  as  affected  by  the  magnetism 
of  the  earth.  His  next  memoir,  sent  to  the  Eoyal 
Society  on  December  31,  1851,  is  "  On  the  Employ- 
ment of  the  Induced  Magneto-electro  Current  as  a  Test 
and  Measure  of  Magnetic  Forces."  He  forms  rectangles 
and  rings,  and  by  ingenious  and  simple  devices  collects 
the  opposed  currents  which  are  developed  in  them  by 
rotation  across  the  terrestrial  lines  of  magnetic  force. 
He  varies  the  shapes  of  the  rectangles  while  preserving 
their  areas  constant,  and  finds  that  the  constant  area  pro- 
duces always  the  same  amount  of  current  per  revolution. 
The  current  depends  solely  on  the  number  of  lines  of 


280  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1851.  force  intersected,  and  when  this  number  is  kept  constant 
Mt.  59.  the  current  remains  constant  too.  Thus  the  lines  of 
magnetic  force  are  continually  before  his  eyes ;  by 
their  aid  he  colligates  his  facts,  and  through  the  inspira- 
tions derived  from  them  he  vastly  expands  the  bounda- 
ries of  our  experimental  knowledge.  The  beauty  and 
exactitude  of  the  results  of  this  investigation  are  extra- 
ordinary. I  cannot  help  thinking,  while  I  dwell  upon 
them,  that  the  discovery  of  magneto-electricity  is  the 
greatest  experimental  result  ever  obtained  by  an  inves- 
tigator. It  is  the  Mont  Blanc  of  Faraday's  own  achieve- 
ments. He  always  worked  at  great  elevations,  but  a 
higher  than  this  he  never  subsequently  attained.' 

For  the  Institution,  after  Easter,  he  gave  six  lectures 
on  some  points  of  electrical  philosophy. 

He  ends  the  notes  of  this  course  thus :  '  The  truth  of 
science  has  ever  had  not  merely  the  task  of  evolving 
herself  from  the  dull  uniform  mist  of  ignorance ;  but 
also  that  of  repressing  and  dissolving  the  phantoms  of 
imagination  which  ever  rise  up  in  new  and  tempting 
shapes,  and  which,  not  being  of  her,  crowd  before  and 
around  her,  and  embarrass  her  in  her  way.' 

He  gave  three  Friday  discourses  : — 

On  the  magnetic  characters  and  relation  of  oxygen  and 
nitrogen;  on  atmospheric  magnetism  (in  this  lecture 
he  stated  that  the  magnetism  of  the  earth  equalled 
8464,000,000,000,000,000,000  one  pound  magnet 
bars) ;  and  on  Schonbein's  ozone. 

He  gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on  the  forces  of 
matter. 

The  letters  which  he  wrote  to  Professor  Schonbein 
show  his  interest  in  ozone,  and  his  delight  in  making 
the  discoveries  of  his  friend  known  in  England. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  281 


FARADAY    TO    PROFESSOR    SCHONBEIN. 

<  Royal  Institution  :  March  5,  1851. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  had  your  hearty  Christmas  letter 
in  due  time. 

'  My,  or  rather  your,  evening,  I  expect  will  be  June  13, 
or  the  middle  of  our  Great  Exhibition.  When  I  drew 
out  a  sort  of  preliminary  sketch  of  the  subject,  I  was 
astonished  at  the  quantity  of  matter — real  matter — and 
its  various  ramifications  ;  and  it  seems  still  to  grow  upon 
me.  What  you  will  make  it  before  I  begin  to  talk,  I 
do  not  know. 

1 1  do  not  as  yet  see  any  relation  between  the  magnetic 
condition  of  oxygen  and  the  ozone  condition,  but  who 
can  say  what  may  turn  up?  I  think  you  make  an 
inquiry  or  two  as  to  the  amount  of  magnetic  force  which 
oxygen  carries  into  its  compounds.  This  is  indeed  a 
wonderful  part  of  the  story,  for  magnetic  as  gaseous 
oxygen  is,  the  substance  seems  to  lose  all  such  force  in 
compounds.  Thus  water,  which  is  |ths  oxygen,  contains 
no  sensible  trace  of  it ;  and  peroxide  of  iron,  which 
itself  consists  of  two  most  magnetic  constituents,  is 
scarcely  sensibly  magnetic;  so  little  have  either 
of  these  bodies  carried  their  forces  into  the  resulting 
compound. 

'  Sometimes  I  think  we  may  understand  a  little  better 
such  changes  by  thinking  that  magnetism  is  a  physical 
rather  than  a  chemical  force,  but  after  all  such  a  dif- 
ference is  a  mere  play  upon  words,  and  shows  ignorance 
rather  than  understanding.  But  you  know  there  are 
really  a  great  many  things  we  are  as  yet  ignorant  of, 


282  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1851.     and  amongst  the  rest  the  infinitesimal  proportion  of 
^ET.  59.    our  knowledge  to  that  which  really  is  to  be  known. 

'  I  have  no  doubt  I  answer  your  letters  very  badly, 
but,  my  dear  friend,  do  you  remember  that  I  forget,  and 
that  I  can  no  more  help  it  than  a  sieve  can  help  the 
water  running  out  of  it.  Still  you  know  me  to  be  your 
old  and  obliged  and  affectionate  friend,  and  all  I  can  say 
is,  the  longer  I  know  you  the  more  I  seem  to  cling  to 
you.  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours  affectionately, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

'Hastings:  April  19,  1851. 

*  My  dear  Schonbein, — Here  we  are  at  the  seaside ; 
and  my  mind  so  vacant  (not  willingly)  that  I  cannot 
get  an  idea  into  it.  You  will  wonder,  therefore,  why  I 
write  to  you,  since  I  have  nothing  to  say,  but  the  fact 
is  I  feel  as  if  I  owed  you  a  letter,  and  yet  cannot 
remember  clearly  how  that  is.  Still  I  would  rather 
appear  stupid  to  you  than  oblivious  of  your  kindness, 
and  yet  very  forgetful  I  am.  In  six  or  seven  weeks  I 
shall  be  talking  of  ozone.  I  hope  I  shall  not  discredit 
you,  or  fail  in  using  well  all  the  matter  you  have  given 
me,  abundant  and  beautiful  as  it  is.  But  I  feel  that  my 
memory  does  not  hold  things  together  in  hand  as  it 
used  to  do.  Formerly  I  did  not  care  about  the  multi- 
plicity of  items ;  they  all  took  their  place,  and  I  picked 
out  what  I  wanted  at  pleasure.  Now  I  am  conscious 
of  but  few  at  once,  and  it  often  happens  that  a  feeble 
point  which  has  present  possession  of  the  mind  obscures 
from  recollection  a  stronger  and  better  one  which  is 


LETTERS  DURING  THE    LATTER   PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  283 

ready  and  waiting.  But  we  must  just  do  the  best  we  1851^ 
can,  and  you  may  be  sure  I  will  do  as  well  for  you  as  JET.  59. 
I  would  for  myself. 

'  I  set  about  explaining  the  other  evening  my  views  of 
atmospheric  magnetism,  and  found  when  I  had  done 
that  I  had  left  out  the  two  or  three  chief  points.  I 
only  hope  the  printed  papers  Contain  them,  and  that 
they  will  be  found  good  by  the  men  who  are  able  to 
judge. 

*  I  am,  as  ever,  most  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

*  Tynemouth  :  August  1,  1851. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — .  .  .  The  ozone  evening  went 
off  wonderfully  well ;  our  room  overflowed,  and  many 
went  away  unable  to  hear  (my  account  at  least)  of  this 
most  interesting  body.  Through  your  kindness,  the 
matter  was  most  abundant  and  instructive,  and  the 
experiments  very  successful.  The  subject  has  been  sent 
into  the  world  so  much  piecemeal,  that  many  were  asto- 
nished to  see  how  great  it  became  when  it  was  presented 
as  one  whole,  and  yet  my  whole  must  have  been  a  most 
imperfect  sketch,  for  I  found  myself  obliged  to  abridge 
my  thoughts  in  every  direction.  Many  accounts  were 
printed  by  different  parties,  and  some  very  inaccurately, 
since  they  had  to  catch  up  what  they  could.  A  notice  of 
four  pages  appeared  in  the  "  Proceedings  "  of  the  Eoyal 
Institution. 

*  The  subject  excited  great  interest,  and,  from  what 


284  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1851.     the  folks  said,  I  had  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  either  for 
^IfcrTeoT    the  subject  or  myself. 

'  And  now,  my  dear  Schonbein,  I  am  very  weary. 
Perhaps  to-day  you  are  at  Glarus.  I  was  two  days  at 
Ipswich  at  our  meeting — no  more,  for  want  of  strength. 
Queen's  balls,  Paris  fdtes,  &c.  &c.,  I  am  obliged  (and 
very  willingly)  to  leave  all  to  others. 

'  I  am,  ever  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

A  letter  to  General  Portlock,  who  was  then  deputy 
governor  of  the  Eoyal  Military  Academy,  Woolwich, 
gives  some  insight  into  his  views  on  the  way  in  which 
chemistry  should  be  taught. 

FARADAY  TO  GENERAL  PORTLOCK. 

'  December  1,  1851. 

'  My  dear  Portlock, — .  .  .  As  one  of  the  Senate  of 
the  University  of  London,  and  appointed  with  others 
especially  to  consider  the  best  method  of  examination, 
I  have  had  to  think  very  deeply  on  the  subject,  and 
have  had  my  attention  drawn  to  the  practical  working 
of  different  methods  at  our  English  and  other  Univer- 
sities; and  know  there  are  great  difficulties  in  them 
all.  Our  conclusion  is  that  examination  by  papers  is 
the  best,  accompanied  by  viva  voce  when  the  written 
answers  require  it.  Such  examinations  require  that 
the  students  should  be  collected  together,  each  with 
his  paper,  pens,  and  ink ;  that  each  should  have  the 
paper  of  questions  (before  unknown)  delivered  to  him  ; 
that  they  should  be  allowed  three,  or  any  sufficient 
number  of  hours  to  answer  them,  and  that  they  should 
be  carefully  watched  by  the  examiner  or  some  other 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  285 

officer,  so  as  to  prevent  their  having  any  communi-     1851. 
cation  with  each  other,  or  going  out  of  the  room  for    ^ET.  GO. 
that  time.     After  which,  their  written  answers  have 
to  be  taken  and  examined  carefully  by  the  examiner 
and  decided  upon  according  to  their  respective  merits. 
We  think  that  no  numerical  value  can  be  attached  to 
the  questions,   because   everything   depends   on   how 
they  are  answered ;  and  that  is  the  reason  why  I  am 
not  able  to  send  you  such  a  list  at  the  present  time. 

'  My  verbal  examinations  at  the  Academy  go  for  very 
little,  and  were  instituted  by  me  mainly  to  keep  the 
students'  attention  to  the  lecture  for  the  time,  under  the 
pressure  of  a  thought  that  inquiry  would  come  at  the 
end.  My  instructions  always  have  been  to  look  to  the 
note-books  for  the  result ;  and  so  the  verbal  examina- 
tions are  only  used  at  last  as  confirmations  or  correc- 
tions of  the  conclusions  drawn  from  the  notes. 

'  I  should  like  to  have  had  a  serious  talk  with  you 
on  this  matter,  but  my  time  is  so  engaged  that  I  cannot 
come  to  you  at  Woolwich  for  the  next  two  or  three 
weeks,  so  I  will  just  jot  down  a  remark  or  two.  In  the 
first  place,  the  cadets  have  only  the  lectures,  and  no 
practical  instruction  in  chemistry,  and  yet  chemistry  is 
eminently  a  practical  science.  Lectures  alone  cannot 
be  expected  to  give  more  than  a  general  idea  of  this 
most  extensive  branch  of  science,  and  it  would  be  too 
much  to  expect  that  young  men  who  at  the  utmost  hear 
only  fifty  lectures  on  chemistry,  should  be  able  to 
answer  with  much  effect  in  writing,  to  questions  set 
down  on  paper,  when  we  know  by  experience  that 
daily  work  for  eight  hours  in  practical  laboratories  for 
three  months  does  not  go  very  far  to  confer  such 
ability. 


28G  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1851.  '  Again :  the  audience  in  the  lecture-room  at  the 
JET.  GO.  Academy  always,  with  me,  consists  of  four  classes,  i.e. 
persons  who  have  entered  at  such  different  periods  as  to 
be  in  four  different  stages  of  progress.  It  would,  I  think, 
be  unfair  to  examine  all  these  as  if  upon  the  same  level ; 
they  constitute  four  different  classes,  and  we  found  it 
in  our  inquiries  most  essential  to  avoid  mixing  up  a 
junior  and  a  senior  class  one  with  the  other.  Even 
though  it  were  supposed  that  you  admitted  only  those 
who  were  going  out  to  examination,  and  such  others 
from  the  rest  as  chose  to  volunteer,  yet  as  respects  them 
it  has  to  be  considered  that  I  may  not  go  on  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  their  fifty  lectures  increasing  the 
importance  and  weight  of  the  matter  brought  before 
them,  for  I  have  to  divide  the  fifty  into  two  courses, 
each  to  be  begun  and  finished  in  the  year,  and  I  ever 
have  to  keep  my  language  and  statements  so  simple  as 
to  be  fit  for  mere  beginners  and  not  for  advanced 
pupils. 

'  I  have  often  considered  whether  some  better  method 
of  giving  instruction  in  chemistry  to  the  cadets  could 
not  be  devised,  but  have  understood  that  it  was  sub- 
ordinate to  other  more  important  studies,  and  that  the 
time  required  by  a  practical  school,  which  is  consider- 
able, could  not  be  spared.  Perhaps,  however,  you  may 
have  some  view  in  this  direction,  and  I  hasten  to  state 
to  you  what  I  could  more  earnestly  and  better  state  by 
word  of  mouth,  that  you  must  not  think  me  the  least  in 
the  way.  I  should  be  very  happy,  by  consultation,  in 
the  first  instance,  to  help  you  in  such  a  matter,  though 
I  could  not  undertake  any  part  in  it.  I  am  getting 
older,  and  find  the  Woolwich  duty,  taking  in  as  it  does 
large  parts  of  two  days,  as  much  as  I  can  manage  with 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  287 

satisfaction  to  myself;  so  that  I  could  not  even  add  on     1851. 
to  it  such  an  examination  by  written  papers  as  I  have  jET.59-eo. 
talked  about :  but  I  should  rejoice  to  know  that  the 
whole  matter  was  in  more  practical  and  better  hands. 
'  Ever,  my  dear  Portlock,  yours  very  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY. 

'  I  refused  to  be  an  examiner  in  our  University. 

4  M.  R' 

In  1851  no  work  was  recorded  for  the  Trinity  House. 

n. 

During  this  year  he  was  made  Member  of  the  Eoyal 
Academy  of  Sciences  at  the  Hague,  Corresponding 
Member  of  the  Batavian  Society  of  Experimental 
Philosophy,  Eotterdam ;  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal  Society 
of  Sciences,  Upsala ;  a  Juror  of  the  Great  Exhibition. 

m. 

The  freedom  of  his  mind  from  jealousy  of  those  who 
were  at  work  on  his  subjects,  is  again  seen  in  his 
letters  to  M.  Becquerel  and  to  Dr.  Tyndall ;  and  in  a 
later  letter  to  Dr.  Tyndall  he  shows  how  thoughtfully 
he  could  give  advice  when  asked  for  it. 

FARADAY   TO   M.  BECQUEREL. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  January  17,  1851. 

*  My  dear  M.  Becquerel, — I  received  your  letter  of 
the  14th  instant  yesterday,  and  hasten  to  reply  to  it, 
as  you  desire  ;  first,  however,  thanking  you  for  your  kind 
expressions,  which  will  be  a  strong  stimulus  to  me, 


288  LIFE    OP   FARADAY, 

1851.  coming  as  they  do  from  a  master  in  science.  I  would 
"^69T  not  have  you  for  a  moment  think  that  I  put  my  paper 
of  three  years  ago  and  that  of  M.  E.  Becquerel's  of  last 
year  on  the  same  footing,  except  in  this,  that  we  each 
discovered  for  ourselves  at  those  periods  the  high 
magnetic  relation  of  oxygen  to  the  other  gases.  M.  E. 
Becquerel  has  made  excellent  measurements,  which  I 
had  not,  and  his  paper  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  most  impor- 
tant contribution  to  science. 

'  I  am  not  quite  sure  whether  you  are  aware  that  in 
my  paper  of  1847  the  comparison  of  one  gas  with 
another  is  always  at  the  same  temperature,  i.e.  at 
common  temperatures,  and  it  was  a  very  striking  fact 
to  me  to  find  that  oxygen  was  magnetic  in  relation  to 
hydrogen  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  equal  in  attractive 
force  to  its  force  of  gravity,  for  the  oxygen  was  suspended 
in  the  hydrogen  by  magnetic  force  alone,  "  Phil.  Mag." 
xxxi.  pp.  415,  416.  I  do  not  think  that  much  turns 
upon  the  circumstance  of  calling  oxygen  magnetic  or 
diamagnetic  in  1847,  when  the  object  was  to  show  how 
far  oxygen  was  apart  from  the  other  gases  in  the 
magnetic  direction,  these  terms  being  employed  in 
relation  to  other  bodies,  and  with  an  acknowledgment 
that  the  place  of  zero  was  not  determined.  If  I  under- 
stand rightly,  M.  Edmond  Becquerel  still  calls  bismuth 
and  phosphorus  magnetic,  whilst  I  call  them  diamagnetic. 
He  considers  space  as  magnetic :  I  consider  it  as  zero. 
If  a  body  should  be  found  as  eminently  diamagnetic  in 
my  view  as  iron  is  magnetic,  still  I  conclude  M. 
Edmond  Becquerel  would  consider  it  magnetic.  He  has 
not  yet  adopted  the  view  of  any  zero  or  natural  standard 
point.  But  this  does  not  prevent  us  from  fully  under- 
standing each  other,  and  the  facts  upon  which  the 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  289 

distinction  of  oxygen  from  nitrogen  and  other  gases      1851. 
are  founded,  remain  the  same,  and  are  just  as  well  made  iJT.59-6o'. 
known  by  the  one  form  of  expression  as  the  other. 
It  was,  therefore,  to  me  a  great  delight,  when  I  first  saw 
his  paper  in  last  November,  to  have  my  old  results 
confirmed  and  so  beautifully  enlarged  in  the  case  of 
oxygen  and  nitrogen  by  the  researches  of  M.  E.  Becquerel, 
and  beyond  all  to  see  the  beautiful  system  of  measure- 
ment applied  to  them  which  is  described  in  his  pub- 
lished paper. 

'  Pray  present  my  kindest  remembrances  and  wishes 
to  him,  and  believe  me  to  be,  with  the  highest 
respect,  my  dear  M.  Becquerel,  your  faithful,  obliged 
servant, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO    DR.    J.    TYNDALL. 

'Hastings:  April  19, 1851. 

'  Dear  Sir, — Whilst  here,  resting  for  a  while,  I  take 
the  opportunity  of  thanking  you  for  your  letter  of 
February  4,  and  also  for  the  copy  of  the  paper  in  the 
"  Philosophical  Magazine,"  which  I  have  received.  I 
had  read  the  paper  before,  and  was  very  glad  to  have 
the  development  of  your  researches  more  at  large  than 
in  your  letter.  Such  papers  as  yours  make  me  feel 
more  than  ever  the  loss  of  memory  I  have  sustained, 
for  there  is  no  reading  them,  or  at  least  retaining  the 
argument,  under  such  deficiency. 

'  Mathematical  formulas  more  than  anything  require 
quickness  and  surety  in  receiving  and  retaining  the 
true  value  of  the  symbols  used,  and  when  one  has  to 

VOL.  II.  U 


JO  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1851.     look  back  at  every  moment  to  the  beginning  of  a  paper, 

T.59-6o.  to  see  what  H  or  A  or  B  mean,  there  is  no  making  way. 

Still,  though  I  cannot  hold  the  whole  train  of  reasoning 

in  my  mind  at  once,  I  am  able  fully  to  appreciate  the 

value  of  the  results  you  arrive  at,  and  it  appears  to  me 

that  they  are  exceedingly  well  established  and  of  very 

great  consequence.     These  elementary  laws  of  action 

are  of  so  much  consequence  in  the  development  of  the 

.  nature  of  a  power  which,  like  magnetism,  is  as  yet  new 

to  us. 

'  My  views  with  regard  to  the  cause  of  the  annual, 
diurnal,  and  some  other  variations  are  not  yet  published, 
though  printed.  The  next  part  of  the  "  Philosophical 
Transactions  "  will  contain  them.  I  am  very  sorry  I  am 
not  able  to  send  you  a  copy  from  those  allowed  to  me, 
but  I  have  had  so  many  applications  from  those  who 
had  some  degree  of  right  that  they  are  all  gone.  I  only 
hope  that  when  you  see  the  "Transactions"  you  may  find 
reason  to  think  favourably  of  my  hypothesis.  Time 
does  not  lessen  my  confidence  in  the  view  I  have  taken, 
but  I  trust  when  relieved  from  my  present  duties,  and 
somewhat  stronger  in  health,  to  add  experimental 
results  regarding  oxygen,  so  that  the  mathematician 
may  be  able  to  take  it  up. 

4  As  you  say,  in  the  close  of  your  letter,  I  have  far 
more  confidence  in  the  one  man  who  works  mentally 
and  bodily  at  a  matter,  than  in  the  six  who  merely  talk 
about  it,  and  I  therefore  hope  and  am  fully  persuaded 
that  you  are  working. 

'  Nature  is  our  kindest  friend  and  best  critic  in  ex- 
perimental science,  if  we  only  allow  her  intimations  to 
fall  unbiassed  on  our  minds.  Nothing  is  so  good  as  an 
experiment  which,  whilst  it  sets  an  error  right,  gives 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTEE  PERIOD  OP  HIS  EESE ARCHES.  291 

(as  a  reward  for  our  humility  in  being  reproved)  an     1851. 
absolute  advancement  in  knowledge.  ZEr.59-60. 

*  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  your  very  obliged  and  faithful 
servant,  'M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.   TYNDALL. 

'  Tynemouth  :  August  1,  1851. 

*  My  dear  Sir, — .  ...  In  the  first  place,  many  thanks 
for  the  specimens  which  I  shall  find  presently  at  home. 
I  was  very  sorry  not  to  see  you  make  your  experiments, 
but  hope  to  realise  the  pressure  results,  which  interest 
me  exceedingly.     I  want  to  have  a  very  clear  view  of 
them. 

'  But  now  for  the  Toronto  matter.  In  such  a  case, 
private  relationships  have  much  to  do  in  deciding  the 
matter ;  but  if  you  are  comparatively  free  from  such 
considerations,  and  have  simply  to  balance  your  present 
power  of  doing  good  with  that  you  might  have  at 
Toronto,  then  I  think  I  should  (in  your  place)  choose 
the  latter.  I  do  not  know  much  of  the  University,  but 
I  trust  it  is  a  place  where  a  man  of  science  and  a  true 
philosopher  is  required,  and  where,  in  return,  such  a  man 
would  be  nourished  and  cherished  in  proportion  to  his 
desire  to  advance  natural  knowledge.  I  cannot  doubt, 
indeed,  that  the  University  would  desire  the  advance- 
ment of  its  pupils,  and  also  of  knowledge  itself,  so  I 
think  that  you  would  be  exceedingly  fit  for  the  position, 
and  I  hope  the  position  fit  for  you.  If  I  had  any  power 
of  choosing  or  recommending,  I  should  aid  your  intro- 
duction into  the  place,  both  because  I  know  what  you 
have  already  done  for  science,  and  I  heard '  how  you 

1  At  the  British  Association  at  Ipswich. 
u  2 


292  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1852-53.  could  state  your  facts  and  touch  your  audience.  Now 
.jKr.60-62.  I  do  not,  for  I  cannot,  proffer  you  a  certificate,  because 
I  have  in  every  case  refused  for  many  years  past  to  give 
any  on  the  application  of  candidates.  Neither,  indeed, 
have  you  asked  me  for  one.  Nevertheless,  I  wish  to 
say  that  when  I  am  asked  about  a  candidate  by  those 
who  have  the  choice  or  appointment,  I  never  refuse  to 
answer;  and,  indeed,  if  my  opinion  would  be  useful, 
and  there  was  a  need  for  it,  you  might  use  this  letter 
as  a  private  letter,  showing  it,  or  any  part  of  it,  to 
any  whom  it  might  concern. 

'  And  now  you  must  excuse  me  from  writing  any 
more,  for  my  muscles  are  stiff  and  weak,  and  my  head 
giddy. 

4  Ever,  my  dear  Dr.  Tyndall,  yours  most  truly, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

I. 

In  1852  and  1853  there  was  not  much  original 
research.  In  the  autumn  of  1852  he  worked  hard  on 
magnetic  force ;  on  December  9  he  wrote  to  Professor 
Schonbein. 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

1  Brighton. 

'My  dear  Friend, — If  I  do  not  write  to  you  now 
I  do  not  know  when  I  shall ;  and  if  I  write  to  you  now 
I  do  not  know  what  I  shall  say,  for  I  am  here  sleeping, 
eating,  and  lying  fallow,  that  I  may  have  sufficient 
energy  to  give  half  a  dozen  Juvenile  Christmas  Lec- 
tures. The  fact  is,  I  have  been  working  very  hard  for 
a  long  time  to  no  satisfactory  end ;  all  the  answers  I 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  293 

have  obtained  from  nature  have  been  in  the  negative,  1852-53. 
and  though  they  show  the  truth  of  nature  as  much  as  ^ET.6o-G2. 
affirmative  answers,  yet  they  are  not  so  encouraging, 
and  so  for  the  present  I  am  quite  worn  out.     I  wish  I 
possessed  some  of  your  points  of  character ;  I  will  not 
say  which,  for  I  do  not  know  where  the  list  might  end, 
and  you  might  think  me  simply  absurd,  and,  besides 
that,  ungrateful  to  Providence. 

*  Your  letter  quite  excites  me,  and  I  trust  you  will 
establish  undeniably  your  point.  It  would  be  a  great 
thing  to  trace  the  state  of  combined  oxygen  by  the 
colour  of  its  compound,  not  only  because  it  would 
show  that  the  oxygen  had  a  special  state,  which  could 
in  the  compound  produce  a  special  result,  but  also 
because  it  would,  as  you  say,  make  the  optical  effect 
come  within  the  category  of  scientific  appliances,  and 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  philosophic  indication  and  means 
of  research,  whereas  it  is  now  simply  a  thing  to  be 
looked  at.  Believing  that  there  is  nothing  superfluous 
or  deficient,  or  accidental,  or  indifferent  in  nature,  I 
agree  with  you  in  believing  that  colour  is  essentially 
connected  with  the  physical  condition  and  nature  of 
the  body  possessing  it ;  and  you  will  be  doing  a  very 
great  service  to  philosophy,  if  you  give  us  a  hint, 
however  small  it  may  seem  at  first,  in  the  develop- 
ment, or,  as  I  may  even  say,  in  the  perception  of  this 
connection.' 

For  the  Institution  in  1852,  after  Easter,  he  gave 
a  course  of  six  lectures  on  points  connected  with  the 
non-metallic  elements :  he  took  oxygen,  chlorine, 
hydrogen,  nitrogen,  sulphur  and  carbon. 


294  LIFE  OF   FARADAY. 

1852-53.  In  his  first  lecture,  on  oxygen,  he  says  :  '  It  can  rest 
jE-r.60-62.  in  the  state  of  combination,  half  way  on  towards  its  final 
end,  as  it  were, — gun-cotton,  gun-sawdust.  These  cases 
indicate  something  of  the  mystery  of  combination,  and 
the  probable  work  of  oxygen  in  more  recondite  cases, 
as  in  the  living  system.  Whilst  in  health  all  advances, 
and  well ;  but  even  a  life  is  but  a  chemical  act  prolonged. 
If  death  occur,  then  more  rapidly,  oxygen  and  the 
affinities  run  on  to  the  final  state.' 

The  first  and  last  Friday  discourses  were  given 
on  lines  of  magnetic  force,  and  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  members  in  1853,  he  gave  a  lecture  which 
contained  the  result  of  his  work  during  the  previous 
autumn ;  the  title  was  '  Observations  on  Magnetic 
Force.'  For  the  more  careful  study  of  the  magnetic 
power,  he  had  a  torsion  balance  constructed  of  a 
peculiar  kind,  and  with  it  he  tried  to  investigate  the 
right  application  of  the  law  of  the  inverse  square  of 
the  distance,  as  the  universal  law  of  magnetic  action. 
By  the  end  of  his  lecture,  he  showed  that  he  was  not 
satisfied  with  his  results.  He  says :  '  Before  leaving 
this  first  account  of  recent  experimental  researches,  it 
may  be  as  well  to  state,  that  they  are  felt  to  be  im- 
perfect, and  may  perhaps  even  be  overturned  ;  but  that 
as  such  a  result  is  not  greatly  anticipated,  it  was  thought 
well  to  present  them  to  the  members  of  the  Eoyal 
Institution  and  the  scientific  world,  if  peradventure 
they  might  excite  criticism  and  experimental  exami- 
nation, and  so  aid  in  advancing  the  cause  of  phy- 
sical science.'  He  gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on 
chemistry. 

In  June  1852,  he  sent  a  long  paper  to  the  'Philoso- 


THE  LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  295 

phical  Magazine,*  on  the  '  Physical  Character   of  the  1852-53. 
Lines  of  Magnetic  Force.'     He  begins  with  a  note  : — 

'  The  following  paper  contains  so  much  of  a  specula- 
tive and  hypothetical  nature  that  I  have  thought  it 
more  fitted  for  the  pages  of  the  "  Philosophical  Maga- 
zine "  than  for  those  of  the  "  Philosophical  Transactions." 
....  The  paper,  as  is  evident,  follows  series  xxviii. 
and  xxix.,  and  depends  much  for  its  experimental 
support  on  the  more  strict  results  and  conclusions  con- 
tained in  them.' 

He  made  many  reports  to  the  Trinity  House — among 
others : — on  adulterated  white-lead  ;  on  oil  in  iron 
tanks ;  on  impure  olive-oils ;  on  the  Caskets  lighthouse. 
The  question  of  the  use  of  Watson's  electric  light  was 
first  moved  by  a  letter  from  Dr.  Watson  to  the  Trinity 
House. 

1853,  to  the  public,  was  a  remarkable  year  in  the 
life  of  Faraday.  The  chief  work  he  did  was  for  the 
public  good.  A  popular  error  was  opposed.  Table- 
turning  was  rampant.  In  the  judgment  of  some, 
the  new  motion  showed  a  new  force  of  nature.  In 
the  belief  of  others,  it  came  from  old  Satanic  action. 
Urged  by  many  to  say  what  he  thought,  he  replied  by 
making  a  few  simple  experiments.  These  showed  how 
easily  the  uneducated  judgment  can  be  misled  by  the 
senses ;  and  how  hard  it  is  to  shun  errors  in  the  in- 
terpretation of  facts. 

The  wonders  of  human  belief  so  astounded  him, 
that  he  burst  forth  in  a  cry  for  the  better  education  of 
the  judgments  around  him.  '  I  declare  that,  taking  the 
average  of  many  minds  that  have  recently  come  before 
me  (and  apart  from  that  spirit  which  God  has  placed 


296  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1853.  in  each),  and  accepting  for  a  moment  that  average  as  a 
JET.  6i."  standard,  I  should  far  prefer  the  obedience,  affections, 
and  instinct  of  a  dog  before  it.' 

The  whole  laboratory  work  of  1853  was  done  in 
six  days  in  August  and  September. 

In  1846  he  had  proved  the  influence  and  power  of 
electricity  and  magnetism  over  a  ray  of  light,  and  now 
again  he  hoped  to  reverse  the  order,  and  evolve  or 
disturb  these  forces  by  the  action  of  light.  For  this 
purpose  he  required  a  rock  crystal  which  was  in  the 
British  Museum,  and  he  wrote — 


TO   THE   TRUSTEES   OF   THE   BRITISH   MUSEUM. 

'  Royal  Institution :  August  20, 1853. 

'  My  Lords  and  Gentlemen, — I  am  engaged  in  the 
investigation  of  a  great  object  in  natural  science, 
namely,  the  relation  of  light  to  electricity  and  mag- 
netism. I  have  advanced  so  far  as  to  prove  the  influence 
and  power  of  the  two  latter  forces  over  a  ray  ("  Philo- 
sophical Transactions,"  1846,  p.  1,  &c.),  and  now  hope  to 
reverse  the  order  and  revolve  or  disturb  these  forces  by 
the  action  of  light.  For  these  researches  I  need  the  use 
of  a  peculiar  crystal  of  silica.  I  have  sought  for  such, 
and  have  obtained  some  specimens,  but  they  are  too 
small  to  allow  much  hopes  of  success.  In  the  British 
Museum  I  have  found  one,  which  for  its  clearness,  size, 
position,  plagiedral  planes,  and  other  circumstances,  is 
eminently  fitted  for  the  research,  and  I  cannot  find  such 
another.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  take  the  liberty 
of  making  application  for  the  loan  of  this  crystal  for 
the  service  of  science.  It  is  about  thirteen  and  a  half 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  297 

inches  long,  and  four  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter,  and  1853. 
is  well  known  to  Mr.  Waterhouse  and  the  attendants.  MT.  si. 
I  shall  not  in  the  slightest  degree  injure  or  even  affect 
it,  my  only  object  being  to  pass  a  ray  from  the  sun 
through  it  whilst  it  is  surrounded  by  a  helix,  and  in 
relation  to  a  galvanometer.  I  need  hardly  say  that  I 
will  take  the  utmost  care  of  it ;  my  willingness  at  all 
times  to  assist  the  Museum  authorities  in  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  objects  under  their  care,  when  they  think 
that  I  can  by  my  advice  aid  them  in  such  matters,  will, 
I  hope,  give  assurance  in  that  respect.  I  cannot  tell 
for  how  long  I  may  want  it,  for  the  experiments  have 
to  wait  upon  the  sun.  If  I  could  transport  the  appara- 
tus to  the  British  Museum,  I  would  propose  that  course, 
but  the  galvanometer  is  an  especial  instrument  from 
Berlin,  and  requires  fixing  with  the  care  of  an  astro- 
nomical instrument.  I  therefore  hope  that  the  trustees 
will  permit  me  the  use  of  this  crystal  in  the  Eoyal 
Institution.  I  would  express  my  own  deep  thanks  for 
such  a  favour,  but  that  I  feel  it  would  be  unmeet  for  me 
to  offer  private  feelings  or  desires  in  such  a  case,  and  as 
I  work  for  the  pure  good  and  advancement  of  science, 
I  have  no  doubt  that  the  trustees  will  do  all  that  lies 
within  their  power  to  aid  me.  If  by  the  use  of  the 
crystal  an  affirmative  result  were  to  be  obtained,  it 
would  give  the  specimen  a  value  far  beyond  any  it 
could  possess  as  a  simple  mineralogical  illustration. 
'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  profound  respect, 
'  My  Lords  and  Gentlemen,  your  very  humble  and 
faithful  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


298  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1853. 
^ET.  61.  FARADAY    TO   SIR   HENRY    ELLIS. 

<  Royal  Institution  :  August  20,  1853. 

'  My  dear  Sir  Henry, — I  beg,  through  you,  as  the 
proper  channel,  to  make  the  enclosed  application  to 
the  trustees  of  the  British  Museum.  I  have  applied  to 
Mr.  Waterhouse  for  advice  how  to  proceed,  but  I  sup- 
pose I  have  been  informal,  for  he  does  not  encourage 
me.  The  trustees  certainly  ought  to  have  the  power, 
under  sufficient  precautions,  to  grant  such  a  request  as 
mine;  for  the  British  Museum  is  especially  for  the 
'advancement  of  science.  If  they  have  not,  I  presume 
that  some  department  of  the  Government  has ;  but  I 
think  it  can  hardly  be  needful  that  I  should  make  such 
application,  or  that  I  should  move  such  bodies  as  the 
Koyal  Society,  or  the  British  Association,  to  make  such 
application  to  a  Secretary  of  State  for  a  purpose  so 
simple  and,  as  it  seems  to  me,  so  fit.  Will  you  do  me 
the  favour  to  aid  my  object,  and  to  let  me  know  the 
result  of  my  application.  I  am  anxious,  if  possible,  to 
make  my  experiments  before  the  sun  loses  its  power  ; 
otherwise,  they  will  have  to  run  on  into  next  year. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir  Henry,  your  obliged  and  faithful 
servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Sir  H.  Ellis  answered  : — 

'  The  trustees,  impressed  by  the  importance  of  the 
object  you  have  in  view,  have  given  instructions  to 
deliver  the  crystal  to  you.' 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  299 


FARADAY   TO   SIR   HENRY   ELLIS. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  September  28,  1853. 

'  My  dear  Sir  Henry, — I  shall  this  day  personally 
return  the  crystal  to  Mr.  Waterhouse,  and  beg  you 
will  have  the  goodness  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  to 
the  trustees  of  the  British  Museum  for  the  favour 
granted  me.  I  have  optically  examined  the  crystal ;  and 
find  it  just  what  I  wanted ;  but  from  the  delays  which 
occurred,  so  much  of  the  sunny  weather  has  passed  by 
that  I  have  little  hope  now  of  any  fit  for  my  purpose 
this  year.  If,  however,  between  this  time  and  next 
summer,  I  am  encouraged  by  results  with  other  crystals, 
I  may  probably  make  application  then  for  a  second 
loan  of  the  specimen. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir  Henry,  your  very  obliged  servant,. 

6  M.  FARADAY/ 

The  '  Athenasum '  for  July  2,  1853,  contains  a  long 
letter  from  Faraday  on  table-moving.  At  a  friend's 
house  he  made  an  experimental  investigation  into  the 
results  obtained  by  three  skilful  performers,  and  the 
beginning  and  ending  of  the  account  in  the  '  Athenaeum ' 
will  sufficiently  indicate  the  results  he  obtained. 

4  The  following  account  of  the  methods  pursued  and 
the  results  obtained  by  Professor  Faraday  in  the  inves- 
tigation of  a  subject  which  has  taken  such  strange 
occupation  of  the  public  mind,  both  here  and  abroad, 
has  been  communicated  to  our  columns  by  that  high 
scientific  authority.  The  subject  was  generally  opened 
by  Mr.  Faraday  in  the  "  Times  "  of  Thursday,  June  30, 
it  being  therein  intimated  that  the  details  were  to  be 


300  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1853.  reserved  for  our  this  day's  publication.  The  coni- 
JET.Gi-W.  munication  is  of  great  importance  in  the  present  morbid 
condition  of  public  thought, — when,  as  Professor 
Faraday  says,  the  effect  produced  by  table-turners  has, 
without  due  inquiry,  been  referred  to  electricity,  to 
magnetism,  to  attraction,  to  some  unknown  or  hitherto 
unrecognised  physical  power  able  to  affect  inanimate 
bodies,  to  the  revolution  of  the  earth,  and  even  to 
diabolical  or  supernatural  agency : — and  we  are  tempted 
to  extract  a  passage  from  Mr.  Faraday's  letter  to  the 
"  Times,"  which  we  think  well  worth  adding  to  the 
experimental  particulars  and  the  commentaries  with 
which  he  has  favoured  ourselves.  "  I  have  been,"  says 
the  Professor,  "  greatly  startled  by  the  revelation  which 
this  purely  physical  subject  has  made  of  the  condition 
of  the  public  mind.  No  doubt  there  are  many  persons 
who  have  formed  a  right  judgment  or  used  a  cautious 
reserve, — for  I  know  several  such,  and  public  com- 
munications have  shown  it  to  be  so ;  but  their  number 
is  almost  as  nothing  to  the  great  body  who  have  believed 
and  borne  testimony,  as  I  think,  in  the  cause  of  error. 
I  do  not  here  refer  to  the  distinction  of  those  who  agree 
with  me  and  those  who  differ.  By  the  great  body,  I 
me'an  such  as  reject  all  consideration  of  the  equality 
of  cause  and  effect, — who  refer  the  results  to  electricity 
and  magnetism,  yet  know  nothing  of  the  laws  of  these 
forces, — or  to  attraction,  yet  show  no  phenomena  of 
pure  attractive  power, — or  to  the  rotation  of  the  earth, 
as  if  the  earth  revolved  round  the  leg  of  a  table, — or 
to  some  unrecognised  physical  force,  without  inquiring 
whether  the  known  forces  are  not  sufficient, — or  who 
even  refer  them  to  diabolical  or  supernatural  agency 
rather  than  suspend  their  judgment,  or  acknowledge 


LETTERS  DUEING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  301 

to  themselves  that  they  are  not  learned  enough  in  these      1853. 
matters  to  decide  on  the  nature  of  the  action.     I  think  ^T.6i-62. 
the  system  of  education  that  could  leave  the  mental 
condition  of  the  public  body  in  the  state  in  which  this 
subject  has  found  it  must  have  been  greatly  deficient 
in  some  very  important  principle.' 

He  ends  thus :  *  I  must  bring  this  long  description  to 
a  close.  I  am  a  little  ashamed  of  it,  for  I  think,  in  the 
present  age,  and  in  this  part  of  the  world,  it  ought  not 
to  have  been  required.  Nevertheless,  I  hope  it  may 
be  useful.  There  are  many  whom  I  do  not  expect 
to  convince ;  but  I  may  be  allowed  to  say  that  I  cannot 
undertake  to  answer  such  objections  as  may  be  made. 
I  state  my  own  convictions  as  an  experimental  philo- 
sopher, and  find  it  no  more  necessary  to  enter  into 
controversy  on  this  point  than  on  any  other  in  science, 
as  the  nature  of  matter,  or  inertia,  or  the  magnetisation 
of  light,  on  which  I  may  differ  from  others.  The 
world  will  decide  sooner  or  later  in  ah1  such  cases,  and 
I  have  no  doubt  very  soon  and  correctly  in  the  present 
instance.  Those  who  may  wish  to  see  the  particular 
construction  of  the  test  apparatus  which  I  have  em- 
ployed, may  have  the  opportunity  at  Mr.  Newman's, 
122  Eegent  Street.  Further,  I  may  say,  I  have  sought 
earnestly  for  cases  of  lifting  by  attraction,  and  indica- 
tions of  attraction  in  any  form,  but  have  gained  no 
traces  of  such  effects.' 

A  few  weeks  later  he  writes  a  remarkable  letter  to 
his  friend  Professor  Schonbein,  in  which  his  inner 
thoughts  on  this  subject  are  seen. 


302  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 


FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

'Royal  Institution  :  July  25,  1853. 

*  My  dear  Schb'nbein, — I  believe  it  is  a  good  while 
since  I  had  your  last  letter,  but  consider  my  age  and 
weariness,  and  the  rapid  manner  in  which  I  am  becom- 
ing more  and  more  inert,  and  forgive  me.  Even  when  I 
set  about  writing,  I  am  restrained  by  the  consciousness 
that  I  have  nothing  worth  communication.  To  be  sure, 
many  letters  are  written  having  the  same  character,  but 
then  there  is  something  in  the  manner  which  makes  up 
the  value,  and  which,  when  I  receive  a  letter  from  a  kind 
friend  such  as  you,  often  raises  it  in  my  estimation,  far 
above  what  a  mere  reader  would  estimate  it  at.  So  you 
are  going  down  the  Danube,  one  point  of  which  I  once 
saw,  and  are  about  enjoying  a  holiday  in  the  presence  of 
fine  nature.  May  it  be  a  happy  and  a  health-giving 
one,  and  may  you  return  to  your  home  loving  it  the 
better  for  the  absence,  and  finding  there  all  the  happi- 
ness which  a  man  sound  both  in  mind  and  body  has  a 
right  to  expect  on  the  earth. 

'  I  have  not  been  at  work  except  in  turning  the 
tables  upon  the  table-turners,  nor  should  I  have  done 
that,  but  that  so  many  inquiries  poured  in  upon  me, 
that  I  thought  it  better  to  stop  the  inpouring  flood  by 
letting  all  know  at  once  what  my  views  and  thoughts 
were.  What  a  weak,  credulous,  incredulous,  unbeliev- 
ing, superstitious,  bold,  frightened,  what  a  ridiculous 
world  ours  is,  as  far  as  concerns  the  mind  of  man. 
How  full  of  inconsistencies,  contradictions,  and  absur- 
dities it  is.  I  declare  that,  taking  the  average  of  many 
minds  that  have  recently  come  before  me  (and  apart 


LETTERS   DURING  THE  LATTER   PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  303 

from  that  spirit  which  God  has  placed  in  each),  and     1853. 
accepting  for  a  moment  that  average  as  a  standard,  I    MI.  ei. 
should  far  prefer  the  obedience,  affections,  and  instinct 
of  a  dog  before  it.     Do  not  whisper  this,  however,  to 
others.     There  is  One  above  who  worketh  in  all  things, 
and  who  governs  even  in  the  midst  of  that  misrule  to 
which  the  tendencies  and  powers  of  men  are  so  easily 
perverted. 

'  The  ozone  question  appears,  indeed,  to  have  been 
considerably  illuminated  by  the  researches  in  Bunsen's 
laboratory.  But  why  do  you  think  it  wonderful  that 
oxygen  should  assume  an  allotropic  condition  ?  We 
are  only  beginning  to  enter  upon  the  understanding  of 
the  philosophy  of  molecules,  and  I  think,  by  what  you 
say  in  former  letters,  that  you  are  feeling  it  to  be  so. 
Oxygen  is  to  me  of  all  bodies  the  most  wonderful,  as  it 
is  to  you.  And  truly  the  views  and  expectations  of 
the  philosopher  in  relation  to  it  would  be  as  wild  as 
those  of  any  table-turner,  &c.,  were  it  not  that  the 
philosopher  has  respect  to  the  laws  under  which  the 
wonderful  things  that  he  acknowledges  come  to  pass, 
and  to  the  never-failing  recurrence  of  the  effect  when 
the  cause  of  it  is  present. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein,  I  really  do  not  know  what  I 
have  been  writing  about,  and  I  doubt  whether  I  shall 
re-read  this  scrawl,  lest  I  should  be  tempted  to  destroy 
it  altogether.  So  it  shall  go  as  a  letter,  carrying  with 
it  our  kindest  remembrances,  and  the  sincerest  affection 
and  esteem  of  yours  ever  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


304  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1852-53.       For  the  Institution  in  1853  he  gave  a  course  of  six 

^Ex.60-62.  lectures  on  static  electricity. 

Early  in  the  year  he  gave  a  Friday  discourse  on 
observations  on  the  magnetic  force,  and  he  gave  the 
last  lecture  of  the  season  on  MM.  Boussingault,  Fremy, 
and  Becquerel's  experiments  on  oxygen. 

At  the  Juvenile  Lectures,  which  he  gave  at  Christmas 
time  on  voltaic  electricity,  he  spoke  to  the  following 
effect,  in  consequence  of  a  report  that  he  had  recanted 
the  opinions  on  table-turning  published  in  the  '  Times.' 

'  In  conclusion,  I  must  address  a  few  words  to  the 
intending  philosophers  who  form  the  juvenile  part  of 
my  audience.  Study  science  with  earnestness — search 
into  nature — elicit  the  truth — reason  on  it,  and  reject 
all  which  will  not  stand  the  closest  investigation.  Keep 
your  imagination  within  bounds,  taking  heed  lest  it  run 
away  with  your  judgment.  Above  all,  let  me  warn  you 
young  ones  of  the  danger  of  being  led  away  by  the 
superstitions  which  at  this  day  of  boasted  progress  are 
a  disgrace  to  the  age,  and  which  afford  astonishing 
proofs  of  the  vast  floods  of  ignorance  overflowing  and 
desolating  the  highest  places. 

'  Educated  man,  misusing  the  glorious  gift  of  reason 
which  raises  him  above  the  brute,  actually  lowers  him- 
self below  the  creatures  endowed  only  with  instinct ; 
inasmuch  as  he  casts  aside  the  natural  sense,  which 
might  guide  him,  and  in  his  credulous  folly  pretends  to 
dissever  and  investigate  phenomena  which  reason  would 
not  for  a  moment  allow,  and  which,  in  fact,  are  utterly 
absurd. 

'  Let  my  young  hearers  mark  and  remember  my 
words.  I  desire  that  they  should  dwell  in  their  memory 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF  HIS   EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES.  305 

as  a  protest  uttered  in  this  institution  against  the  pro-  1852-53. 
gress  of  error.     Whatever  be  the  encouragement  it  may  ^Er.60-62. 
receive  elsewhere,  may  we,  at  any  rate,  in  this  place, 
raise  a  bulwark  which  shall  protect  the  boundaries  of 
truth,  and  preserve  them  uninjured  during  the  rapid 
encroachments  of  gross  ignorance  under  the  mask  of 
scientific  knowledge/ 

In  1853,  he  gave  five  reports  to  the  Trinity  House — on 
a  comparison  of  a  French  lens  and  a  Chance's  lens ;  on 
the  lightning-rods  at  Eddystone  and  Bishop's  light- 
houses ;  on  the  ventilation  of  St.  Catherine  and  the 
Needles  lighthouses,  and  that  at  Cromer ;  and  on  fog- 
signals.  A  company  was  formed  to  apply  Watson's 
electric  light  to  lighthouses,  &c..  but  no  trial  of  the  light 
took  place. 

II. 

In  1853  he  was  made  Foreign  Associate  of  the  Eoyal 
Academy  of  Sciences,  Turin,  and  Honorary  Member  of 
the  Eoyal  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Mauritius. 

As  director  of  the  laboratory  and  superintendent 
of  the  house,  he  received  300/.  from  the  Eoyal  Insti- 
tution. 

III. 

A  few  characteristic  letters  written  during  these  two 
years  remain. 

Mr.  Brande  in  1852  gave  his  last  lecture  in  the 
theatre  of  the  Eoyal  Institution.  He  was  told  that  the 
secretary,  Mr.  Barlow,  was  instrumental  in  crushing  the 
expression  of  feeling  of  thankfulness  for  Mr.  Brande's 
long  services,  and  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Faraday,  who  sent 
the  following  reply  : — 

VOL.  II.  X 


306  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 


1852. 
JET.  60. 


FAKADAY   TO  PROFESSOR   BRANDE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  May  6, 1852. 

'  My  dear  Brande, — Your  informants  have  not  done 
Barlow  justice ;  perhaps  they  mistook  him.  I  will 
endeavour  to  give  you  such  an  account  as  you  ask  me 
for,  though  doubting  my  memory.  I  was  in  the 
gallery  at  your  last  lecture  ;  your  audience  were  taken 
much  by  surprise  by  your  farewell,  and  when  you  left 
the  room,  a  member,  I  think  Sir  H.  Hall,  called  on  Mr. 
Barlow  to  take  the  chair,  that  the  audience  might  give 
an  expression  of  their  feelings.  Other  persons  spoke, 
and  I  think  that  several  members  thought  they  ought 
to  have  been  informed  by  the  managers  of  the  coming 
resignation,  and  my  impression  was  that  they  considered 
the  managers  ought  to  have  done  and  said  somewhat, 
and  were  hurt  by  the  neglect.  This,  as  you  know,  was 
impossible,  because  of  the  recent  date  of  your  announce- 
ment to  the  board,  for  the  Monday  following  your 
lecture  was  the  first  monthly  meeting  after  it.  Mr. 
Barlow  ventured  to  mention  the  recent  circumstances, 
and  the  managers'  intention  to  report  on  the  following 
Monday  your  resignation,  and  their  proposition  to 
express  their  feelings  by  taking  precisely  the  same 
steps  as  in  the  case  of  the  resignation  of  Davy. 

4  Then  expressions,  very  kind  to  you,  were  uttered, 
as  was  most  natural  after  such  a  long  term  of  what  I 
may,  truly  call  affectionate  relationship,  accompanied 
by'some  vague  propositions  of  a  fellowship,  a  bust,  or 
some  other  mark  to  be  awarded  as  by  a  vote  of  those 
present.  Mr.  Barlow  endeavoured  to  explain  that  that, 
mixed  meeting  could  not  act  or  vote  on  a  lecture  day 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  307 

as  a  body  of  members,  the  act,  charters,  and  by-laws  1852. 
being  against  it,  but  that  they  could  give  the  expression  JET.  GO. 
of  their  conjoined  opinion  in  any  form  they  thought 
proper;  whereupon  a  vote  of  thanks,  moved  and 
seconded  by  Sir  Charles  Clarke  and  Mr.  John  Pepys, 
was  carried  and  communicated  immediately  by  the 
former  to  you.  The  vote  is  also  recorded  in  the 
printed  notices,  and  I  believe  elsewhere,  as  in  a  report 
to  the  managers,  but  I  am  not  sure  about  that.  I 
cannot  remember.  On  Monday,  April  5,  the  managers 
made  their  report  to  the  monthly  meeting,  and  I  had 
the  honour  of  proposing  you  as  the  Honorary  Professor 
of  Chemistry.  Several  then  spoke  in  the  very  highest 
terms  of  your  long  connection  with  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion, and  were  glad  to  hear  what  the  managers  recom- 
mended. Several  proposed  some  token  of  their  feelings 
in  which  they  could  be  joined  personally,  and  Mr.  John 
Pepys'  generous  mind  was  very  forward  in  this  ;  but  a 
real  obstruction  was  thrown  in  the  way  by  one  member 
proposing  so  many  things  that  nothing  was  distinct ;  a 
chair,  a  scholarship,  a  bust  presented  to  yourself,  a 
portrait,  a  medal,  were  amongst  them,  and  some 
members,  including  myself,  had  to  remark  upon  the 
fitness  of  things.  I  recommended  a  committee,  and  it 
was  understood,  as  I  believe,  that  anything  of  the  kind 
ought  to  be  done,  not  as  an  act  of  the  meeting  of 
members  acting  for  the  whole  body  of  members,  but  by 
a  committee  and  subscription,  as  in  other  like  cases ;  and 
I  have  been  waiting  to  hear  the  formation  of  such  a 
committee  by  those  who  seemed  earnest  for  it. 

'  May  1  st  was  the  annual  meeting ;  then  also  many 
kind  expressions  were  uttered  during  the  hour  of 
waiting  for  the  election  of  officers,  your  name  being  in 

x  2 


308  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1852.  the  managers'  list,  but,  as  you  know,  nothing  but  the 
"JET!  GO/  election  and  the  visitors'  report  could  then  be  taken  as 
the  business  of  the  day.  May  3  was  the  next  monthly 
meeting,  and  then  the  election  as  Honorary  Professor 
occurred.  You  ask  me  whether  anything  transpired. 
I  cannot  call  to  mind  that  any  proposition  (beyond 
what  the  managers  had  recommended)  or  any  hint  was 
made.  I  was  still  expecting  the  formation  of  a  com- 
mittee, but  those  who  said  most  on  the  first  occasion 
were  not  present. 

'  I  have  thus  endeavoured  to  answer  your  inquiries,  but 
feel  I  have  not  remembered  the  order  of  things  clearly. 
Sir  Charles  Clarke  was  present  on  all  the  occasions,  and 
he  is  one  who  could  tell  you  what  occurred,  and  whom  I 
think  you  would  feel  you  could  trust.  On  the  whole, 
I  do  not  see  how  Mr.  Barlow,  when  called  upon,  could 
act  otherwise,  and  I  know  the  impression  on  the  minds 
of  several  who  were  present  is  not  that  which  you  have 
received.  I  shall  say  nothing  to  him  or  anybody 
else  about  your  letter,  but  consider  it  at  present  quite 
confidential,  as  you  desire ;  and  I  trust  that  you  will 
soon  hear  enough  from  other  parties  to  remove  alto- 
gether and  entirely  the  impressions  you  have  received. 
It  would  be  indeed  a  sad  pity,  if,  after  fifty  years  of 
kind  and  active  association  between  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion and  yourself,  the  least  uncomfortable  feeling  should 
remain  as  its  result,  and  I  cannot  help  saying  that  if  I 
knew  your  informants  I  should  feel  very  much  inclined 
to  speak  to  them  as  a  justice  due  to  Mr.  Barlow  and 
yourself  conjointly. 

*  Ever,  my  dear  Brande,  yours  faithfully, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


LETTERS  DURIXG  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHER.  309 

The  substance  of  Mr.  Brande's  answer  was :    4  My  1852. 

informants  must  have  misunderstood  or  misinterpreted  MtToi^ 
Mr.  Barlow's  interference.' 


FARADAY   TO   M.    AUGUSTE   DE    LA   RIVE. 

Royal  Institution  :  October  16, 1852. 

'  My  dear  de  la  Eive, — From  day  to  day,  and  week 
to  week,  I  put  off  writing  to  you,  just  because  I  do  not 
feel  spirit  enough  ;  not  that  I  am  dull  or  low  in  mind, 
but  I  am,  as  it  were,  becoming  torpid,  a  very  natural 
consequence  of  that  kind  of  mental  fogginess  which  is 
the  inevitable  consequence  of  a  gradually  failing 
memory.  I  often  wonder  to  think  of  the  different 
courses  (naturally)  of  different  individuals,  and  how 
they  are  brought  on  their  way  to  the  end  of  this  life. 
Some  with  minds  that  grow  brighter  and  brighter,  but 
their  physical  powers  fail,  as  in  our  friend  Arago,  of 
wThom  I  have  heard  very  lately,  by  a  nephew  who  saw 
him  on  the  same  day  in  bed  and  at  the  Academy,  such 
is  his  indomitable  spirit.  Others  fail  in  mind  first, 
whilst  the  body  remains  strong.  Others,  again,  fail  in 
both  together,  and  others  fail  partially  in  some  faculty 
or  portion  of  the  mental  powers,  of  the  importance  of 
which  they  were  hardly  conscious  until  it  failed  them. 
One  may,  in  one's  course  through  life,  distinguish 
numerous  cases  of  these  and  other  natures,  and  it  is 
very  interesting  to  observe  the  influence  of  the  respec- 
tive circumstances  upon  the  characters  of  the  parties, 
and  in  what  way  these  circumstances  bear  upon  their 
happiness.  It  may  seem  very  trite  to  say  that  content 
appears  to  me  to  be  the  great  compensation  for  these 
various  cases  of  natural  change,  and  yet  it  is  forced 


310  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1852.  upon  me  as  a  piece  of  knowledge  that  I  have  ever  to 
asr.61.'  call  afresh  to  mind,  both  by  my  own  spontaneous  and 
unconsidered  desires,  and  by  what  I  see  in  others. 
No  remaining  gifts,  though  of  the  highest  kind,  no 
grateful  remembrance  of  those  which  we  have  had, 
suffice  to  make  us  willingly  content  under  the  sense  of 
the  removal  of  the  least  of  those  which  we  have  been 
conscious  of.  I  wonder  why  I  write  all  this  to  you  ? 
Believe  me  it  is  only  because  some  expressions  of  yours 
at  different  times  make  me  esteem  you  as  a  thoughtful 
man  and  a  true  friend.  I  often  have  to  call  such  things 
to  remembrance  in  the  course  of  my  own  self-examina- 
tions, and  I  think  they  make  me  happier.  Do  not  for 
a  moment  suppose  that  I  am  unhappy ;  I  am  occasion- 
ally dull  in  spirits,  but  not  unhappy.  There  is  a  hope 
which  is  an  abundantly  sufficient  remedy  for  that,  and 
as  that  hope  does  not  depend  on  ourselves  I  am  bold 
enough  to  rejoice  in  that  I  may  have  it. 

4 1  do  not  talk  to  you  about  philosophy,  for  I  forget  it 
all  too  fast  to  make  it  easy  to  talk  about.  When  I  have 
a  thought  worth  sending  you  it  is  in  the  shape  of  a 
paper  before  it  is  worth  speaking  of ;  and  after  that  it 
is  astonishing  how  fast  I  forget  it  again.  So  that  I 
have  to  read  up  again  and  again  my  own  recent  com- 
munications, and  may  well  fear  that  as  regards  others  I 
do  not  do  them  j  ustice.  However,  I  try  to  avoid  such 
subjects  as  other  philosophers  are  working  at ;  and  for 
that  reason  have  nothing  important  in  hand  just  now. 
I  have  been  working  hard,  but  nothing  of  value  has 
come  of  it. 

4  Let  me  rejoice  with  you  in  the  marriage  of  your 
daughter.  I  trust  it  will  be,  as  I  have  no  doubt  it  has 
been,  a  source  of  great  happiness  to  you.  Your  son,  too, 


LETTEES  DURIKG  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES. 

whenever  I  see  him,  makes  me  think  of  the  joy  he  will 
be  to  you.  May  you  long  be  blessed  in  your  children, 
and  in  all  the  things  which  make  a  man  truly  happy 
even  in  this  life. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  friend,  yours  affectionately, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

M.  de  la  Eive's  answer  to  this  letter  is  essential  for 
the  completion  of  the  picture. 

A.    DE   LA   RIVE   TO   FARADAY. 

'  Geneve,  le  24  d&embre  1852. 

'Monsieur  et  tres-cher  ami, — Je  n'ai  pas  repondu 
plus  tot  h  votre  bonne  et  amicale  lettre,  parce  que 
j'aurais  voulu  avoir  quelque  chose  d'interessant  a  vous 
dire.  Je  suis  peine  de  ce  que  votre  tete  est  fatiguee ; 
cela  vous  est  deja  arrive  quelquefois  a  la  suite  de  vos 
travaux  si  nombreux  et  si  perseverants ;  mais  vous  vous 
rappelez  qu'il  suffit  d'un  peu  de  repos  pour  vous  remettre 
en  tres-bon  etat.  Vous  avez  ce  qui  coritribue  le  plus  h 
la  serenite  de  1'ame  et  au  calme  de  l'esprit— une  foi 
pleine  et  entiere  et  une  conscience  pure  et  tranquille, 
qui  remplit  votre  coeur  des  esperances  magnifiques  que 
nous  doime  1'evangile.  Vous  avez  en  outre  1'avantage 
d'avoir  toujours  mene  une  vie  douce  et  bien  reglee, 
exempte  d'ambition,  et  par  consequent  de  toutes  les 
agitations  et  de  tons  les  mecomptes  qu'elle  entraine 
apres  elle.  La  gloire  est  venue  vous  chercher  malgre 
vous  ;  vous  avez  su,  sans  la  me'priser,  la  r^duire  k  sa 
juste  valeur.  Vous  avez  su  vous  concilier  partout  a  la 
fois  la  haute  estime  et  1'affection  de  ceux  qui  vous  con- 
naissent. 

'  Enfin,  vous  n'avez  ete  frappe  jusqu'ici,  grace  a  la 
bonte  de  Dieu,  d'aucun  de  ces  malheurs  domestiques 


312  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1853.  qui  brisent  une  vie.  C'est  done  sans  crainte,  comms 
jET.6i-f2.  sans  amertume,  que  vous  devez  sentir  approcher  la 
vieillesse,  en  ayant  le  sentiment  bien  cloux  que  les  mer- 
veilles  que  vous  avez  su  lire  dans  le  livre  de  la  nature 
doivent  contribuer  pour  leur  bonne  part  k  en  faire 
encore  plus  admirer  et  adorer  le  supreme  Auteur. 

'  Voila,  tres-cher  ami,  1'impression  que  votre  belle 
vie  m'a  toujours  fait  eprouver ;  et  quand  je  la  compare 
h  nos  vies  agitees  et  si  mal  remplies,  i\  tout  cet  ensemble 
de  mecomptes  et  de  douleurs  dont  la  mienne  en  parti- 
culier  a  ete  abreuvee,  je  vous  estime  bien  heureux, 
surtout  parce  que  vous  etes  digne  de  votre  bonheur. 
Tout  cela  m'amene  k  penser  au  malheur  de  ceux  qui 
n'ont  pas  cette  foi  religieuse  que  vous  avez  a  un  si 
haut  degre. 

4  Je  suis  bien  sur  que,  malgre  ce  que  vous  me  dites,  vous 
saurez  encore  trouver  quelque  belle  mine  a  exploiter 
dans  ce  riche  domaine  que  vous  cultivez  avec  tant 
d'ardeur  et  de  succes.  N'oubliez  pas  de  m'en  faire  part 
k  ce  qui  vient  de  vous,  parce  que  c'est  de  vous  avant 
tout,  et  ensuite  parce  que  c'est  toujours  original  ct 
remarquable.  Merci  de  toutes  vos  precedentes  com- 
munications. 

'  Votre  affectueux  et  bien  devoue 

CA.  DE  LA  RIVE.' 

FARADAY   TO   HIS   NIECE   MRS.    DEACOX. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  July  23,  1853. 

4  My  dear  Caroline, — Yours  to  me  arrived  yesterday, 
and  was  very  pleasant  in  the  midst  of  the  serious  cir- 
cumstances which  had  come  over  us,  and  of  which  you 
have  no  doubt  heard  by  this  time.  I  am  always 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  313 

cheered  by  your  words,  and  it  is  well  for  us  to  hear  a  1853. 
remembrance  of  our  hope  rebounding  from  one  to  jET.6i-62. 
another  in  these  latter  days,  when  the  world  is  running 
mad  after  the  strangest  imaginations  that  can  enter  the 
human  mind.  I  have  been  shocked  at  the  flood  of 
impious  and  irrational  matter  which  has  rolled  before 
me,  in  one  form  or  another,  since  I  wrote  my  "  Times  " 
letter  ;  and  am  more  than  ever  glad  that,  as  a  natural 
philosopher,  I  have  borne  my  testimony  to  the  cause  of 
common  sense  and  sobriety.  I  have  received  letters 
from  the  most  learned  and  the  highest,  thanking  me 
for  what  I  did. 

'  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  delusions  of  mind, 
and  the  credulity  which  makes  many  think  that  super- 
natural works  are  wrought  where  all  is  either  fancy  or 
knavery,  are  related  to  that  which  is  foretold  of  the 
latter  days,  and  the  prevalence  of  unclean  spirits,  which 
unclean  spirits  are  working  in  the  hearts  of  man,  and 
not,  as  they  credulously  suppose,  in  natural  things. 
There  is  a  good  hope,  however,  which  has  no  relation 
to  these  things,  except  by  its  perfect  separation  from 
them  in  all  points,  and  which  will  not  fail  those  who 
are  kept  in  it. 

1  Poor  Mary !  But  why  poor  ?  She  is  gone  in  her 
hope  to  the  rest  she  was  looking  for,  and  we  may 
rejoice  in  her  example  as  a  case  of  the  power  of  God, 
who  keeps  those  who  look  to  Him  in  simplicity  through 
the  faith  that  is  in  Christ.  But  her  poor  husband,  and 
her  many  children  are  deeply  to  be  felt  for,  and  you 
also,  and  her  father.  We  join  in  deep  sympathy  with 
you  all.  .  .  . 

'  Do   you    see  how   crabbed   my  hand-writing  has 


314  LIFE    OF   FAKADAY. 

1853.     become  ?     The  muscles  do  not  obey  as  they  used  to  do, 

MI.  ei.    but  trip  up  or  fall  short  of  their  intended  excursions, 

and  so  parts  of  letters  are  wanting,  or  whole  letters  left 

out.     You  must  guess  it,  and  I  know  you  will  have  a 

good  will  for  the  purpose. 

*  And  now,  dear  Caroline,  with  kindest  remembrances 
to  your  husband,  I  must  conclude,  not  forgetting  the 
maiden  of  the  house. 

4  Ever  your  affectionate  uncle, 

4  M.  FAKADAY? 

His  thoughts  on  scientific  controversy  were  very 
strongly  written  to  Professor  C.  Matteucci,  who  com- 
plained that  Faraday  had  allowed  the  translation  of 
Professor  Muller's  paper  on  animal  electricity  to  be 
inscribed  to  him  who  had  taken  the  greatest  interest 
in  the  experiments. 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   C.  MATTEUCCI. 

«  Royal  Institution  :  March  3,  1853. 

'  My  dear  Matteucci, — I  was  quite  startled  the  other 
day  by  the  receipt  of  your  letter  (I  mean  the  MS.  one 
to  myself),  for  my  imperfect  memory  made  me  quite 
unaware  that  there  was  anything  in  Dr.  B.  Jones's 
translation  of  Muller's  account  of  du  Bois  Raymond's 
experiments  which  could  make  it  any  source  of 
annoyance  or  irritation  beyond  the  original. 

'  I  knew  from  matters  reported  in  the  "  Comptes 
Rendus  "  and  otherwise,  that  you  and  du  Bois  Raymond 
were  in  some  degree  antagonistically  placed ;  a  thing 
very  much  to  be  regretted,  but  which  often  happens 
amongst  the  highest  men  in  every  department  of 
science,  and  more  often  when  there  are  two  or  three 
only  that  really  pursue  the  subject  than  when  there 


LETTEKS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  315 

are  many.  Still  I  may  truly  say  that  when  du  Bois  ^J-853. 
Raymond  was  here,  he  never  spoke  of  you  in  hard  2Er.  ei. 
terms  or  objectionably  to  me  ;  probably  he  avoided  the 
subject,  but  he  did  not  embitter  it.  Dr.  Bence  Jones's 
translation  was  not  completed,  I  think,  in  print,  until 
after  he  was  gone,  but  of  that  I  am  not  quite  sure. 
Being  entirely  unacquainted  with  German,  I  do  not 
know  what  either  du  Bois  Eaymond  or  Dr.  Miiller 
may  have  said  controversionally,  but  I  concluded  you 
had  borne  with  the  work  of  the  latter  with  that 
patience  which  most  men  of  eminence  have  to  practise. 
For  who  has  not  to  put  up  in  his  day  with  insinuations 
and  misrepresentations  in  the  accounts  of  his  pro- 
ceedings given  by  others,  bearing  for  the  time  the 
present  injustice  which  is  often  unintentional,  and  often 
originates  in  hasty  temper,  and  committing  his  fame 
and  character  to  the  judgment  of  the  men  of  his  own 
and  future  time  te-wbem-all-tho  nGccoiiary  dates- 
known  i 


'  I  see  that  that  moves  you  which  would  move  me 
most,  namely,  the  imputation  of  a  want  of  good  faith, 
and  I  cordially  sympathise  with  any  one  who  is  so 
charged  unjustly.  Such  cases  have  seemed  to  me 
almost  the  only  ones  for  which  it  is  worth  while 
entering  into  controversy.  I  have  felt  myself  not  un- 
frequently  misunderstood,  often  misrepresented,  some- 
times passed  by,  as  in  the  cases  of  specific  inductive 
capacity,  magneto-electric  currents,  definite  electrolytic 
action,  &c.  &c.  ;  but  it  is  only  in  the  cases  where  moral 
turpitude  has  been  implied,  that  I  have  felt  called  upon 
to  enter  on  the  subject  in  reply.  I  can  feel  with  you  in 
the  regret  which  you  express  (pp.  14,  15)  at  having  to 
write  such  a  letter,  and  employ  time  in  such  a  manner  ; 
and  looking  again  at  the  abstract,  can  see  how  p.  23 


316  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 

1853.  and  some  other  parts  have  made  you  think  it  necessary 
-JET.  6i.  to  do  so ;  but  the  letter  being  written,  it  will  at  all 
events  have  the  good  effect  of  collating  dates  both  be- 
fore and  after  the  year  1842.  Ultimately,  this  collation 
of  dates  is  everything ;  for  in  all  matter  of  scientific  con- 
troversy, the  dates  form  the  data  upon  which  that  final 
umpire  appealed  to  (i.e.  the  scientific  world)  will  judge. 
'  I  am  sorry  the  dedication  annoys  you :  I  suppose 
the  Italian  and  the  English  feeling  must  differ  in  that 
respect.  I  do  not  like  dedications,  but  I  look  upon 
them  as  honorary  memberships,  and  not  to  be  refused 
without  something  like  an  insult  to  the  other  parties 
concerned.  In  the  chief  number  of  cases  in  which  I 
have  been  concerned,  I  have  not  been  asked  before- 
hand, and  in  all  cases  would  rather  not.  We  were 
bound  by  our  duty  to  the  members  and  to  science  to 
let  du  Bois  Raymond  (or  any  other  like  person)  make 
his  experiments  here,  and  to  the  accident  of  his 
making  them  here  is  due  the  dedication  itself,  as  the 
book  says. 

'  These  polemics  of  the  scientific  world  are  very 
unfortunate  things  ;  they  form  the  great  stain  to  which 
the  beautiful  edifice  of  scientific  truth  is  subject.  Are 
they  inevitable  ?  They  surely  cannot  belong  to  science 
itself,  but  to  something  in  our  fallen  natures.  How 
earnestly  I  wish,  in  all  such  cases,  that  the  two  cham- 
pions were  friends.  Yet  I  suppose  I  may  not  hope 
that  you  and  du  Bois  Raymond  may  some  day  become 
so.  Well,  let  me  be  your  friend,  at  all  events ;  and 
with  the  kindest  remembrances  to  Madame  Matteucci 
and  yourself,  believe  me  to  be.  my  dear  Matteucci, 
'  Ever  very  truly  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  317 

To  one  who  troubled  him  for  his  photograph,  and     1854. 
would  not  be  denied,  he  wrote  : —  ^ErTcs. 


FARADAY   TO   DR.    M- 


'  Royal  Institution  :  March  12,  1853. 

'Dear  Sir, — My  words  are  simple  and  correct.  I 
know  that  there  are  plenty  of  portraits  :  I  do  not  know 
that  there  is  a  single  likeness.  I  have  compared  the 
portraits  with  my  face  in  the  glass,  and  I  cannot  see  a 
likeness  in  any  one  of  them.  Therefore,  if  I  wished,  I 
I  could  not  send  you  one.  But  as  I  never  help  to 
publish  either  portrait  or  likeness,  I  cannot  in  any 
manner  accede  to  your  request.  I  think  we  may  now 
consider  this  matter  as  finished. 

'  Very  truly  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 
I. 

In  1854,  though  much  original  work  was  done,  yet 
it  fills  but  little  space  in  the  laboratory  note-book.  A 
long  series  of  experiments  were  carried  on,  at  the 
works  of  the  Electric  Telegraph  Company,  on  sub- 
merged insulated  wires  of  great  length.  He  published 
a  paper  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine '  on  this  subject. 
He  gave  a  lecture  at  the  Eoyal  Institution  on  it,  and 
he  sent  an  account  of  his  experiments  to  M.  de  la 
Eive  in  a  letter  which  also  shows  his  loving  nature. 

FARADAY   TO   MONSIEUR   AUG.  DE    LA   RIVE. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  January  28,  1854. 

'  My  dear  and  kind  Friend, — It  seems  a  very  long 
time  since  I  wrote  to  or  heard  from  you,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  it  has  been  my  own  fault.  I  often  verify  to  my- 
self the  truth  of  the  old  school  copy,  "  Procrastination 


318  LIFE   OF  -FARADAY. 

1854.  is  the  thief  of  time  ; "  and  when  I  purpose  to  write, 
JET.  62.  it  seems  to  me  as  if  my  thoughts  now  were  hardly 
worth  utterance  to  the  men  of  persisting  intellect  and 
strength.  But  there  are  ties  besides  those  of  mere 
science  and  worldly  relationship,  and  I  venture  to  think 
I  have  some  such  with  you.  These  I  cannot  easily 
relinquish,  for  they  grow  dearer  as  other  more  temporal 
things  dissolve  away ;  and  though  one  cannot  talk  so 
often  or  so  glibly  about  them,  because  of  their  far 
more  serious  character,  still  from  time  to  time  we  may 
touch  these  chords,  and  I  shall  think  it  a  happiness 
whilst  they  respond  and  vibrate  between  us.  Such  ties 
exist  but  in  few  directions,  but  they  are  worth  all  the 
rest. 

4 1  had  a  word  from  Schonbein  a  little  while  ago,  and 
he  called  you  to  mind  by  speaking  of  his  daughter, 
who  was,  I  think,  then  with  you,  and  it  called  up  afresh 
the  thoughts  of  the  place  when,  very  many  years  ago, 
I  first  saw  it  and  your  father,  1814  or  '15,  but  the 
remembrances  of  that  time  are  very  shadowy  with  me. 
There  came  up  the  picture  of  the  time  when  I  and  my 
wife  were  there  with  you  and  your  happy  family,  and 
a  strong  thought  of  the  kindness  I  have  had  from  your 
house  through  two  generations,  and  now  comes  the 
contemplation  of  these  generations  passing  away. 
Surely,  though  we  have  both  had  trials,  and  deep  ones, 
yet  we  have  also  had  great  mercies  and  goodness 
shown  us  ;  above  all,  the  great  hope.  May  the  year 
that  we  have  entered  be  full  of  peace  to  you  and  sweet 
pleasure  among  your  children. 

'  I  have  lately  had  a  subject  brought  before  me  in 
electricity,  full  of  interest.  My  account  of  it  is  in  the 
printer's  hands,  and  when  I  receive  it  I  will  send  you 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  319 

a  copy  by  post.  Briefly,  it  is  this.  Copper  telegraph  1854. 
wires  are  here  covered  perfectly  with  gutta-percha,  so  ^T.'G^ 
that  hundreds  of  miles  may  be  immersed  in  water,  and 
yet  a  very  small  discharge  through  the  gutta-percha 
occurs,  when  a  very  intense  voltaic  battery  (300  or  400 
pairs  of  plates)  is  connected  with  it.  100  miles  of  such 
wire  in  water  with  the  two  exposed  extremities  in- 
sulated, can  be  charged  by  one  pole  of  a  voltaic 
battery,  and  after  separation  from  the  battery  for  five 
or  ten  minutes,  will  give  a  shock  or  a  current  to  the 
body  or  a  galvanometer,  or  fire  gunpowder,  or  effect 
other  electric  actions,  either  static  or  dynamic.  The 
100  miles  is,  in  fact,  an  immense  Leyden  jar,  and 
because  the  copper  is  T^th  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and 
the  gutta-percha  TVth  of  an  inch  thick  or  y^th  of  an  inch 
extreme  diameter,  the  surface  of  the  copper  or  inner 
lining  of  the  jar  is  equal  to  8,270  square  feet,  and  the 
outer  coating  or  water  surface  equal  to  33,000  square 
feet.  But  besides  this  fact  of  a  charge  given,  kept,  and 
then  employed,  such  a  wire  in  water  has  its  power  of 
conveying  electricity  wonderfully  affected  ;  not  its  final 
power,  for  that  is  the  same  for  an  equal  length  of  the 
wire  in  air  or  in  water,  but  its  power  in  respect  of  brief 
currents  or  waves  of  electric  force,  even  to  the  extent 
of  making  the  time  occupied  in  the  transmission  vary 
as  100  to  1  or  more.  In  a  few  days  you  shall  have 
the  account.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  have  told  you 
yet  of  the  pleasure  I  have  had  in  your  vol.  i.,1  but  I 
long  for  vol.  ii.  Many  thanks  for  all  your  kindness  in 
it,  and  on  every  occasion. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  de  la  Eive,  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

1  On  Electricity. 


320  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1854.  This  year  is  memorable  at  the  Eoyal  Institution  for 
jEr.62-63.  a  lecture  which  Faraday  gave  on  mental  education,  or 
as  he  also  called  it,  on  deficiency  of  judgment,  and  on 
the  means  of  improving  it.  This  formed  one  of  an 
afternoon  course  of  lectures  on  education,  and  Prince 
Albert  came  to  it.  He  began  the  lecture  with  some 
very  remarkable  words ;  they  are  in  the  highest  degree 
characteristic  of  his  mind  :  '  Before  entering  upon  this 
subject,  I  must  make  one  distinction  which,  however  it 
may  appear  to  others,  is  to  me  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. High  as  man  is  placed  above  the  creatures 
around  him,  there  is  a  higher  and  far  more  exalted 
position  within  his  view ;  and  the  ways  are  infinite  in 
which  he  occupies  his  thoughts  about  the  fears,  or 
hopes,  or  expectations  of  a  future  life.  I  believe  that 
the  truth  of  that  future  cannot  be  brought  to  his 
knowledge  by  any  exertion  of  his  mental  powers, 
however  exalted  they  may  be ;  that  it  is  made  known 
to  him  by  other  teaching  than  his  own,  and  is  received 
through  simple  belief  of  the  testimony  given.  Let  no 
one  suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  self-education  I  am 
about  to  commend,  in  respect  of  the  things  of  this  life, 
extends  to  any  considerations  of  the  hope  set  before  us, 
as  if  man  by  reasoning  could  find  out  God.  It  would 
be  improper  here  to  enter  upon  this  subject  further 
than  to  claim  an  absolute  distinction  between  religious 

O 

and  ordinary  belief.  I  shall  be  reproached  with  the 
weakness  of  refusing  to  apply  those  mental  operations 
which  I  think  good  in  respect  of  high  things  to  the 
very  highest.  I  am  content  to  bear  the  reproach. 
Yet  even  in  earthly  matters  I  believe  that  "  the  invisible 
things  of  Him  from  the  creation  of  the  world  are 
clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are 


THE   LATTER   PERIOD   OF   HIS  ELECTRICAL   RESEARCHES.  321 

made,  even  His  eternal  power  and  Godhead,"  and  I     1854. 
have  never  seen  anything  incompatible  between  those  JET.62-63. 
things  of  man  which  can  be  known  by  the  spirit  of 
man  which   is  within  him,   and  those  higher  things 
concerning  his  future,  which  he  cannot  know  by  that 
spirit.'     And  then  he  proceeds  to  lecture  on  deficiency 
of  judgment. 

He  ends  his  lecture  by  saying :  '  My  thoughts  would 
flow  back  amongst  the  events  and  reflections  of  my  past 
life,  until  I  found  nothing  present  itself  but  an  open 
declaration — almost  a  confession — as  a  means  of  per- 
forming the  duty  due  to  the  subject  and  to  you.' 

When  reprinting  these  thoughts  on  mental  educa- 
tion, he  said  :  '  They  are  so  immediately  connected  in 
their  nature  and  origin  with  my  own  experimental  life, 
considered  either  as  cause  or  consequence,  that  I  have 
thought  the  close  of  this  volume  (of  "  Researches  on 
Chemistry  and  Physics  ")  not  an  unfit  place  for  their 
reproduction.' 

In  addition  to  the  Friday  evening  discourse  on  elec- 
tric induction,  he  gave  the  last  Friday  discourse  on 
magnetic  hypothesis.  He  ended  it  thus  :  '  Our  varying 
hypotheses  are  simply  the  confessions  of  our  ignorance 
in  a  hidden  form;  and  so  it  ought  to  be,  only  the 
ignorance  should  be  openly  acknowledged.' 

He  gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on  combustion. 

At  the  end  of  this  year  he  sent  a  long  paper  to  the 
'  Philosophical  Magazine  '  on  some  points  of  magnetic 
philosophy.  He  begins  saying  : — '  Within  the  last 
three  years  I  have  been  bold  enough,  though  only  as 
an  experimentalist,  to  put  forth  new  views  of  magnetic 
action  in  papers  having  for  titles  "  On  Lines  of  Magnetic 
Force,"  "  Phil.  Trans.,"  1852  ;  and  "  On  Physical  Lines 

VOL.  II.  Y 


322  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1854.  of  Magnetic  Force,"  "Phil.  Mag.,"  1852.  I  propose  to 
^E?  62.  call  the  attention  of  experimenters  in  a  somewhat  de- 
sultory manner  to  the  subject  again,  both  as  respects 
the  deficiency  of  the  present  physical  views  and  the 
possible  existence  of  lines  of  physical  force.' 

He  ends  his  paper  saying : — '  I  have  no  clear  idea  of 
the  physical  condition  constituting  the  charged  magnetic 
state,  i.e.  the  state  of  the  source  of  magnetic  power, 
or  of  the  coercitivity  by  which  that  state  is  either 
resisted  in  its  attainment  or  sustained  in  its  permanent 
condition,  for  the  hypotheses  as  yet  put  forth  give  no 
satisfaction  to  my  mind.  I  profess  rather  to  point  out 
the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  views  which  are  at 
present  somewhat  too  easily  accepted,  and  to  shake 
men's  minds  from  their  habitual  trust  in  them  ;  for  next 
to  developing  and  expounding,  that  appears  to  me  the 
most  useful  and  effectual  way  of  really  advancing  the 
subject :  it  is  better  to  be  aware  or  even  to  suspect  we 
are  wrong,  than  to  be  unconsciously  or  easily  led  to 
accept  an  error  as  right.' 

The  two  next  letters  to  Professor  de  la  Eive  are 
on  the  production  of  induction  currents  in  liquids,  on 
which  Faraday  made  some  experiments  this  year. 


FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   DE    LA   RIVE. 

<  Royal  Institution :  March  1,  1854. 

'My  dear  Friend, — Your  kindness  and  invitation 
move  our  hearts  to  great  thankfulness  youwards  :  but 
they  cannot  roll  back  the  years,  and  give  us  the  strength 
and  ability  of  former  times.  We  are  both  changed — 
my  wife  even  more  than  I,  for  she  is  indeed  very 
infirm  in  her  limbs  ;  nor  have  I  much  expectation  that 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  323 

m  that  respect  she  will  importantly  improve ;  but  we     1854. 
are  both  very  thankful  for  each  other's  company,  and  ^^T 
for  the  abundant  blessing  God  has  granted  to  us.     I 
do  not  think  it  probable  that  either  of  us  shall  cross 
the  sea  this  year,  or  move  a  hundred  miles  from  home, 
but  we  shall  often  during  the  summer  recall  to  mind 
your  very  pleasant  invitation. 

'Your  volume  and  the  new  matter  I  shall  look 
forward  to  with  eagerness.  My  little  report  I  have  no 
doubt  you  have  received  ere  this.  You  will  there 
perceive  how  much  the  induction  you  referred  to  in 
your  letter  has  to  do  with  the  phenomena  described. 

'Now  in  reference  to  your  questions.  And  first, 
whether  I  have  ever  obtained  induction  currents  through 
liquids  not  being  metals  ?  I  have  not  worked  on  the 
subject  since  1832.  At  that  time  I  obtained  no  current 
with  a  tube  of  sulphuric  acid  (Experimental  Eesearch, 
200),  but  the  current  obtained  in  metals  passed  through 
liquids  (Experimental  Eesearch,  20).  I  should  not  °at 
all  despair  of  obtaining  the  current  by  the  use  of  electro- 
magnets and  thick  wire  galvanometers  (3,178),  but  I 
never  have  obtained  them. 

« With  regard  to  the  second  question,  I  have  never 
seen  any  reason  to  withdraw  from  the  opinion  I  formed 
in  the  year  1834,  that  water  and  such  liquids  could 
conduct  a  very  feeble  portion  of  electricity  without 
suffering  decomposition.  I  venture  to  refer  you  to  the 
paragraphs  in  the  "  Experimental  Eesearches,"  namely, 
968  to  973,  also  1017  and  1032.  I  have  never  contested 
the  point,  because,  having  once  advanced  it,  I  have  not 
since  found  any  reason  to  add  or  alter,  and  I  left  it  to 
make  its  way.  You  will  find  at  the  end  of  paragraph  984 
reference  to  a  point  which  has  always  had  great  weight 


T   2 


324  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1854.  with  me.  When  electrolytes  are  solid,  as  in  the  case 
^T;62.  of  nitre  or  chloride  of  sodium  at  common  temperatures, 
or  water  at  or  below  0°  F.  ;  and  when,  according  to 
all  appearance,  they  cannot  conduct  as  electrolytes,  they 
still  can  conduct  electricity  of  high  tension,  as  is  shown 
at  par.  419  to  430.  If  they  have  this  power  to  such  a 
considerable  degree,  with  electricity  able  to  open  the 
gold  leaves,  it  is  almost  certain  that  they  have  it  to  a 
certain  degree  with  electricity  of  lower  tension ;  and  if 
the  solid  electrolytes  have  such  power,  I  cannot  see 
any  reason  why  their  liquefaction  should  take  it  away. 
It  would  seem  rather  unphilosophical  to  admit  it  for 
the  solid,  and  then  without  proof  to  assume  that  it  is 
absent  in  the  liquid  :  for  my  part,  I  think  the  proof  is 
all  the  contrary  way.  The  power  seems  to  be  present 
in  a  very  low  degree,  but  I  think  it  is  there.  So  much 
for  that  matter. 

4  If  I  were  in  your  company  I  should  have  a  long 
chat  with  you  about  Pelago's  experiments.  I  cannot 
understand  them  as  to  any  new  principle  that  is  involved 
in  them ;  and  if  there  be  not  a  new  principle  I  fear 
they  are  only  mistakes,  i.e.  imperfect  forms  of  old  results 
where  the  two  developed  forces  are  beforehand  present. 
I  cannot  conceive  it  possible  that  if  a  sphere  (metallic  ) 
of  three  inches  diameter,  be  inside  a  metallic  sphere  of 
twelve  feet  (or  any  other)  diameter,  and  touching  its 
side,  its  mere  removal  into  the  centre  of  the  larger 
sphere,  or  any  other  position  in  it,  will  cause  any  elec- 
tricity to  appear. 

'  Adieu,  my  dear  friend,  for  the  present. 

'  Ever  affectionately  yours, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 


LETTERS  DURIXG  THE  LATPER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  325 

1854. 
FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   DE    LA   RIVE.  jE>r'  62' 

'  Royal  Institution  :  March  7,  1854. 

'  My  clear  Friend, — Your  question  whether  I  have 
ever  succeeded  in  producing  induction  currents  in  other 
liquids  than  mercury  or  melted  metals,  as,  for  instance, 
in  acid  or  saline  solutions,  has  led  me  to  make  a  few 
experiments  on  the  subject,  for  though  I  believe  in  the 
possibility  of  such  currents,  I  had  never  obtained  affir- 
mative results.     I  have  now  procured  them,  and  send 
you  a  description  of  the  method  pursued.     A  powerful 
electro-magnet  of  the  horse-shoe  form  was  associated 
with  a  Grove's  battery  of  twenty  pairs  of  plates.     The 
poles  of  the  magnet  were  upwards,  their  flat  end  faces 
being  in  the  same  horizontal  plane.     They  are    3-5 
inches  square,  and  about  6  inches  apart.     A  cylindrical 
bar  of  soft  iron,  8  inches  long  and  17  in  diameter,  was 
employed  as  a  keeper  or  submagnet.     The  cylindrical 
form  was  adopted,  first,  because  it  best  allowed  of  the 
formation  of  a  fluid  helix  around  it,  and  next  because 
when  placed  on  the  poles  of  the  magnet,  and  the  battery 
connections  made  and  broken,  the  magnet  and  also  the 
keeper  rises  and  falls  through  much  larger  variations 
of  power,  and  far  more  rapidly  than  when  a  square  or 
flat-faced  keeper  is  employed  ;  for  the  latter,  if  massive, 
has,  as  you  know,  its  power  of  sustaining  the  magnetic 
conditions  of  the  magnet  in  a  very  great  degree  when 
the  battery  connection  is  broken.     A  fluid  helix  was 
formed  round  this  keeper,  having  twelve  convolutions, 
and  a  total  length  of  7  feet ;  the  fluid  was  only  0-25  of 
an  inch  in  diameter,  the  object  being  to  obtain  a  certain 
amount   of  intensity  in   the   current  by    making   the 


326  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1854.     inductive  excitement  extend  to  all  parts  of  that  great 
-ET.  62.    length  rather  than  to  produce  a  quantity  current  by 
largeness  of  diameter,  i.e.  by  a  shorter  mass  of  fluid. 

4  This  helix  was  easily  constructed  by  the  use  of  8*5 
feet  of  vulcanised  caoutchouc  tube  having  an  internal 
diameter  of  0-25,  and  an  external  diameter  of  0-5  of  an 
inch.  Such  a  tube  is  sufficiently  strong  not  to  collapse 
when  placed  round  the  iron  cylinder.  The  twelve  con- 
volutions occupied  the  interval  of  6  inches,  and  two 
lengths  of  9  inches  each  constituted  the  ends.  This 
helix  was  easily  and  perfectly  filled  by  holding  it  with 
its  axis  perpendicular,  dipping  the  lower  end  into  the 
fluid  to  be  used,  and  withdrawing  the  air  at  the  upper  ; 
then  two  long  clean  copper  wires  0'25  of  an  inch  in 
diameter  were  introduced  at  the  ends,  and  being  thrust 
forward  until  they  reached  the  helix,  were  made  secure 
by  ligaments,  and  thus  formed  conductors  between  the 
fluid  helix  and  the  galvanometer.  The  whole  was 
attached  to  a  wooden  frame,  so  as  to  protect  the  helix 
from  pressure  or  derangement  when  moved  to  and  fro. 
The  quantity  of  fluid  contained  in  the  helix  was  about 
3  cubic  inches  in  the  length  of  7  feet.  The  galvano- 
meter was  of  wire  0-033  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  164 
feet  in  length,  occupying  310  convolutions.  It  was 
18  feet  from  the  magnet,  and  connected  with  the  helix 
by  thick  wires  dipping  into  cups  of  mercury.  It  was 
in  the  same  horizontal  plane  with  the  magnetic  poles, 
and  very  little  affected  by  direct  action  from  the  latter. 
4  A  solution  formed  by  mixing  one  volume  of  strong 
sulphuric  acid,  and  three  of  water  was  introduced  into 
the  helix  tube.  The  iron  keeper  placed  in  the  helix, 
and  the  whole  adjusted  on  the  magnetic  poles  in  such 
a  position  that  the  ends  of  the  copper  connectors  in 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PEEIOD  OP  HIS  RESEARCHES.  327 

the  tube  were  above  the  iron  cylinder  or  keeper,  and      1854. 
were  advanced   so   far  over  it  as   to   reach   the  per-    Mr.  62. 
pendicular   plane   passing  through   its   axis.     In   this 
position  the  lines  of  magnetic  force  had  no  tendency  to 
excite  an  induced  current  through  the  metallic  parts  of 
the   communication.     The   outer  ends  of  the  copper 
terminals  were,  well  connected  together,  and  the  whole 
left  for  a  time,  so  that  any  voltaic  tendency  due  to  the 
contact  of  the  acid  and  copper  might  be  diminished  or 
exhausted. 

'  After  that  the  copper  ends  were  separated,  and  the 
connections  with  the  galvanometer  so  adjusted  that 
they  could  be  in  an  instant  either  interrupted  or  com- 
pleted, or  crossed  at  the  mercury  cups.  Being  in- 
terrupted, the  magnet  was  excited  by  the  full  force 
of  the  battery,  and  thus  the  direct  magnetic  effect 
on  the  galvanometer  was  observed.  The  helix  had 
been  so  arranged  that  any  current  induced  in  it 
should  give  a  deflection  in  the  contrary  direction  to 
that  thus  caused  directly  by  the  magnet,  that  the  two 
effects  might  be  better  separated.  The  battery  was 
then  disconnected,  and  when  the  reverse  action  was 
over  the  galvanometer  connections  were  completed 
with  the  helix.  This  caused  a  deflection  of  only  2°, 
due  to  a  voltaic  current  generated  by  the  action  of  the 
acid  in  the  helix  on  the  copper  ends.  It  showed  that 
the  connection  throughout  was  good,  and  being  con- 
stant in  power  caused  a  steady  deflection,  and  was  thus 
easily  distinguished  from  the  final  result.  Lastly,  the 
battery  was  thrown  into  action  upon  the  magnet,  and 
immediately  the  galvanometer  was  deflected  in  one 
direction,  and  upon  breaking  battery  contact  it  was  de- 
flected in  the  other  direction  ;  so  that  by  a  few  alterna- 


328  LIFE   OF   FAB  AD  AY. 

1854.  tions  considerable  swing  could  be  imparted  to  the 
*^ET.  62.  needles.  They  moved  also  in  that  particular  manner 
often  observed  with  induced  currents,  as  if  urged  by  an 
impact  or  push  at  the  moments  when  the  magnet  was 
excited  or  lowered  in  force  ;  and  the  motion  was  in  the 
reverse  direction  to  that  produced  by  the  mere  direct 
action  of  the  magnet.  The  effects  were  constant.  When 
the  communicating  wires  were  crossed  they  again  oc- 
curred, giving  reverse  actions  at  the  galvanometer. 
Further  proof  that  they  were  due  to  currents  induced 
in  the  fluid  helix  was  obtained  by  arranging  one  turn 
of  a  copper  wire  round  the  iron  core  or  keeper,  in  the 
same  direction  as  that  of  the  fluid  helix,  and  using  one 
pair  of  plates  to  excite  the  magnet ;  the  induced  current 
caused  in  the  copper  wire  was  much  stronger  than  that 
obtained  in  the  fluid,  but  it  was  always  in  the  same 
direction. 

'  After  these  experiments  with  the  highly  conducting 
solution,  the  helix  was  removed,  the  dilute  acid  poured 
out,  a  stream  of  water  sent  through  the  helix  for  some 
time,  distilled  water  then  introduced,  and  allowed  to 
remain  in  it  awhile,  which  being  replaced  by  fresh 
distilled  water,  all  things  were  restored  to  their  places 
as  before,  and  thus  a  helix  of  pure  water  was  submitted 
to  experiment.  The  direct  action  of  the  magnet  was 
the  same  as  in  the  first  instance,  but  there  was  no  ap- 
pearance of  a  voltaic  current  when  the  galvanometer 
communications  were  completed.  Nor  were  there  any 
signs  of  an  induced  current  upon  throwing  the  magnet 
into  or  out  of  action.  Pure  water  is  too  bad  a  con- 
ductor to  give  any  sensible  effects  with  a  galvanometer 
and  magnet  of  this  sensibility  and  power. 

'  I  then  dismissed  the  helix,  but  placing  the  keeper 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  329 

on  the  magnetic  poles,  arranged  a  glass  disc  under  it, 
and  filled  the  dish  with  the  same  acid  solution  as  before. 
So  that  the  liquid  formed  a  horizontal  fluid  disc,  six 
inches  in  diameter  nearly,  an  inch  deep,  and  within 
0*25  of  an  inch  of  the  keeper.  Two  long  clean  platinum 
plates  dipped  into  this  acid  on  each  side  of  the  keeper, 
and  parallel  to  it,  and  were  at  least  five  inches  apart 
from  each  other ;  these  were  first  connected  together 
for  a  time,  that  any  voltaic  tendency  might  subside, 
and  then  arranged  so  as  to  be  united  with  the  galvano- 
meter when  requisite,  as  before.  Here  the  induced 
currents  were  obtained  as  in  the  first  instance,  but  not 
with  the  same  degree  of  strength.  Their  direction  was 
compared  with  that  of  the  current  induced  in  a  single 
copper  wire  passed  between  the  fluid  and  the  keeper, 
the  magnet  being  then  excited  by  one  cell,  and  was 
found  to  be  the  same.  However,  here  the  possibility 
exists  of  the  current  being  in  part  or  altogether  excited 
upon  the  portions  of  the  wire  conductors  connected 
with  the  platinum  plates ;  for  as  their  ends  bend  to  go 
beneath  the  keeper,  and  so  into  the  circuit  of  magnetic 
power  formed  by  it  and  the  magnet,  they  are  subject 
to  the  lines  of  force  in  such  a  position  as  to  have  the 
induced  current  formed  in  them  ;  and  the  induced 
current  can  obtain  power  enough  to  go  through  liquid, 
as  I  showed  in  1831.  But  as  the  helix  experiment  is 
free  from  this  objection,  I  do  not  doubt  that  a  weak 
induced  current  occurred  in  the  fluid  in  the  dish  also. 

'  So  I  consider  the  excitement  of  induction  currents 
in  liquids  not  metallic  as  proved ;  and  as  far  as  I 
can  judge  they  are  proportionate  in  strength  to  the 
conducting  powers  of  the  body  in  which  they  are 
generated.  In  the  dilute  sulphuric  acid  they  were  of 


330  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1854.  course  stronger  than  they  appeared  by  the  deflection 
^asr.U.  to  be ;  because  they  had  first  to  overcome  the  contrary 
deflection  which  the  direct  action  of  the  magnet  was 
able  to  produce.  The  sum  of  the  two  deflections,  in  fact, 
expressed  the  force  of  the  induced  current.  Whether 
the  conduction,  by  virtue  of  which  they  occur,  is 
electrolytic  in  character  or  conduction  proper,  I  cannot 
say.  The  present  phenomena  do  not  aid  to  settle  that 
question,  because  the  induced  current  may  exist  by 
either  one  or  the  other  process.  I  believe  that  conduc- 
tion proper  exists,  and  that  a  very  weak  induction 
current  may  pass  altogether  by  it,  exerting  for  the 
time  only  a  tendency  to  electrolysis  :  whilst  a  stronger 
current  may  pass  partly  by  it,  and  partly  by  full  elec- 
trolytic action. 

c  I  am,  my  dear  friend,  ever  most  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DE   LA   RIVE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  March  8,  1854. 

4  My  dear  de  la  Eive, — I  send  you  the  (above)  enclosed 
letter  in  such  shape  that  you  may  publish  it  if  you 
think  it  worth  while.  It  has  been  copied  so  as  to  be 
a  little  better  in  writing  than  if  you  had  had  the 
original.  I  wish  I  could  have  written  it  in  French. 
As  the  experiments  arose  out  of  your  question,  I  send 
the  matter  to  you  first.  If  you  publish  it  in  the  "  Bib- 
liotheque,"  then  I  shall  afterwards  give  my  rough  copy 
to  the  "  Philosophical  Magazine  "  as  the  translation 
from  your  journal. 

'  If  you  should  not  find  it  expedient  to  print  it,  then 
I  would  alter  the  heading  a  little,  and  send  it  to  the 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  331 

"  Philosophical  Magazine"  as  original.     Do  exactly  as      1854. 
you-  like  with  it.  MT.QI~ 

1  Ever,  my  dear  friend,  yours  affectionately, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  sent  five  reports  to  the  Trinity  House,  one  of 
which,  in  two  parts,  was  on  Dr.  Watson's  electric  light 
(voltaic),  and  on  Professor  Holmes's  electric  light 
(magneto-electric).  The  conclusion  was  that  he  could 
not  recommend  the  electric  light,  and  that  it  had  better 
be  tried  for  other  than  lighthouse  uses  first.  To  Dr. 
Watson  he  wrote  that  he  '  could  not  put  up  in  a  light- 
house what  has  not  been  perfectly  established  before- 
hand, and  is  only  experimental.' 

II. 

He  was  made  Corresponding  Associate  of  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Sciences,  Naples. 

III. 

Several  interesting  letters  this  year  show  Faraday's 
character.  His  kindness  and  nobleness  come  out  every- 
where. The  most  characteristic  letter  is  one  written  in 
answer  to  a  question  from  the  Parliamentary  Committee 
of  the  British  Association,  Whether  any  and  what  mea- 
sures could  be  adopted  by  the  Government  or  the 
Legislature,  to  improve  the  position  of  science,  or  of  the 
cultivators  of  science,  in  this  country  ?  This  was  dated 
March  8,  1854,  and  signed  '  Wrottesley,  Chairman.' 

FARADAY   TO   LORD   WROTTESLEY. 

'Royal  Institution  :  March  10,  1854. 

'  My  Lord, — I  feel  unfit  to  give  a  deliberate  opinion 
on  the  course  it  might  be  advisable  for  the  Government 
to  pursue  if  it  were  anxious  to  improve  the  position  of 


332  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1854.  science  and  its  cultivators  in  our  country.  My  course 
"jETT^T  of  life,  and  the  circumstances  which  make  it  a  happy 
one  for  me,  are  not  those  of  persons  who  conform  to 
the  usages  and  habits  of  society.  Through  the  kindness 
of  all,  from  my  sovereign  downwards,  I  have  that  which 
supplies  all  my  need  ;  and  in  respect  of  honours,  I  have, 
as  a  scientific  man,  received  from  foreign  countries  and 
sovereigns,  those  which,  belonging  to  very  limited  and 
select  classes,  surpass  in  my  opinion  anything  that  it  is  in 
the  power  of  my  own  to  bestow. 

'  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  not  valued  such  distinctions ; 
on  the  contrary,  I  esteem  them  very  highly,  but  I  do 
not  think  I  have  ever  worked  for  or  sought  after 
them.  Even  were  such  to  be  now  created  here,  the 
time  is  past  when  these  would  possess  any  attraction 
for  me ;  and  you  will  see  therefore  how  unfit  I  am, 
upon  the  strength  of  any  personal  motive  or  feeling,  to 
judge  of  what  might  be  influential  upon  the  minds  of 
others.  Nevertheless,  I  will  make  one  or  two  remarks 
which  have  often  occurred  to  my  mind. 

'  Without  thinking  of  the  effect  it  might  have  upon 
distinguished  men  of  science,  or  upon  the  minds  of 
those  who,  stimulated  to  exertion,  might  become  dis- 
tinguished, I  do  think  that  a  Government  should  for 
its  own  sake,  honour  the  men  who  do  honour  and  service 
to  the  country.  I  refer  now  to  honours  only,  not  to 
beneficial  rewards ;  of  such  honours  I  think  there  are 
none.  Knighthoods  and  baronetcies  are  sometimes 
conferred  with  such  intentions,  but  I  think  them  utterly 
unfit  for  that  purpose.  Instead  of  conferring  distinction, 
they  confound  the  man  who  is  one  of  twenty,  or  perhaps 
fifty,  with  hundreds  of  others.  They  depress  rather 
than  exalt  him,  for  they  tend  to  lower  the  especial 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  3BB 

distinction  of  mind  to  the  commonplaces  of  society.  An  1854. 
intelligent  country  ought  to  recognise  the  scientific  men  JET.  62. 
among  its  people  as  a  class.  If  honours  are  conferred 
upon  eminence  in  any  class,  as  that  of  the  law  or  the 
army,  they  should  be  in  this  also.  The  aristocracy  of 
the  class  should  have  other  distinctions  than  those  of 
lowly  and  high-born,  rich  and  poor,  yet  they  should  be 
such  as  to  be  worthy  of  those  whom  the  sovereign  and 
the  country  should  delight  to  honour,  and  being 
rendered  very  desirable  and  even  enviable  in  the  eyes 
of  the  aristocracy  by  birth,  should  be  unattainable 
except  to  that  of  science.  Thus  much  I  think  the 
Government  and  the  country  ought  to  do  for  their 
own  sake  and  the  good  of  science,  more  than  for  the 
sake  of  the  men  who  might  be  thought  worthy  of  such 
distinction.  The  latter  have  attained  to  their  fit  place, 
whether  the  community  at  large  recognise  it  or  not. 

'  But  besides  that,  and  as  a  matter  of  reward  and 
encouragement  to  those  who  have  not  yet  risen  to  great 
distinction,  I  think  the  Government  should  in  the  very 
many  cases  which  come  before  it,  having  a  relation  to 
scientific  knowledge,  employ  men  who  pursue  science 
provided  they  are  also  men  of  business.  This  is  perhaps 
now  done,  to  some  extent,  but  to  nothing  like  the 
degree  which  is  practicable  with  advantage  to  all 
parties.  The  right  means  cannot  have  occurred  to  a 
Government  which  has  not  yet  learned  to  approach  and 
distinguish  the  class  as  a  whole. 

'  At  the  same  time,  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  am 
enable  to  advise  how  that  which  I  think  should  be  may 
-come  to  pass.  I  believe  I  have  written  the  expression 
of  feelings  rather  than  the  conclusions  of  judgment,  and 
I  would  wish  your  Lordship  to  consider  this  letter  as 


334  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

^J.854.     private  rather  than  as  one  addressed  to  the  Chairman 
JET.  62.     of  a  Committee. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  your  very  faithful 
servant,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO    PROFESSOR   SCIIONBEIX. 

<  Royal  Institution  :  May  15,  1854. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — Your  letters  stimulate  me  by 
their  energy  and  kindness  to  write,  but  they  also  make 
me  aware  of  my  inability,  for  I  never  read  yours  even 
for  that  purpose  without  feeling  barren  of  matter  and 
possessed  of  nothing  enabling  me  to  answer  you  in 
kind.  And  then,  on  the  other  hand,  I  cannot  take  yours, 
and  think  it  over,  and  so  generate  a  fund  of  philosophy 
as  you  do,  for  I  am  now  far  too  slow  a  man  for  that. 
What  is  obtained  tardily  by  a  mind  not  so  apt  as  it 
may  have  been  is  soon  dropped  again  by  a  failing  power 
of  retention.  And  so  you  must  just  accept  the  manifesta- 
tion of  old  afiection  and  feeling  in  any  shape  that  it 
may  take,  however  imperfect. 

'  I  made  the  experiments  on  the  dahlia  colour,  which 
you  sent  me,  and  they  are  very  beautiful.  Since  then, 
I  have  also  made  the  experiment  with  ink  and  carbonic 
acid  (liquid),  and  succeeded  there  also  to  the  extent 
you  described.  I  had  no  reason  to  expect,  from  what 
you  said,  that  diy  ink  would  lose  its  colour,  but  I  tried 
the  experiment,  and  could  not  find  that  the  carbonic 
acid  bath  had  power  to  do  that.  Many  years  ago  I  was 
engaged  on  the  wonderful  power  that  water  had  when 
it  became  ice  of  excluding  other  matters.  I  could 
even  break  up  compounds  by  cold.  Thus  if  you  pre- 
pare a  thin  glass  test  tube  about  the  size  of  the  thumb, 
and  a  feather  so  much  larger  that  when  in  the  tube  and 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  335 

twirled  about  it  shall  rapidly  brush  the  sides,  if  .you  take 
some  dilute  sulphuric  acid  so  weak  that  it  will  easily 
freeze  at  0°  Fahrenheit,  and  putting  that  into  the  tube 
with  the  feather;  if,  finally,  you  put  all  into  a  good  freez- 
ing mixture  of  salt  and  snow,  and  whilst  the  freezing 
goes  on,  you  rotate  the  feather  continually  and  quickly, 
so  as  to  continually  brush  the  interior  surface  of  the  ice 
formed,  clearing  off  all  bubbles,  and  washing  that  surface 
with  the  central  liquid,  you  may  go  on  until  a  half  or 
two-thirds  or  more  of  the  liquid  is  frozen,  and  then 
pouring  out  the  central  liquid  you  will  find  it  a  concen- 
trated solution  of  the  acid.  After  that,  if  you  wash  out 
the  interior  of  the  frozen  mass  with  two  or  three  dis- 
tilled waters,  so  as  to  remove  all  adhering  acid,  and  then 
warm  the  tube  by  the  hand,  so  as  to  bring  out  the  piece 
of  ice,  it  upon  melting  will  give  you  pure  water,  not  a 
trace  of  sulphuric  acid  remaining  in  it.  The  same  was 
the  case  with  common-salt  solution,  sulphate  of  soda, 
in  alcohol,  &c.,  and,  if  I  remember  rightly,  even  with 
some  solid  compounds  of  water.  I  think  I  recollect 
the  breaking  up  of  crystals  ot  sulphate  of  soda  by  cold, 
and  I  should  like  very  much  now  to  try  the  effect  of  a 
carbonic  acid  bath  on  crystals  of  sulphate  of  copper. 
So  it  strikes  me  that  in  the  effect  of  the  cold  on 
the  colourless  dahlia  solution,  the  reappearance  of 
the  colour  may  depend  upon  the  separation  of  the 
sulphurous  acid  from  the  solidifying  water. 

'  I  think  some  of  my  letters  must  have  missed — you 
scold  me  so  hard.  As  I  cannot  remember  what  I  have 
sent  or  said,  I  am  obliged  to  enter  in  a  remembrancer 
the  letters  written  or  received,  and,  looking  to  it,  I  find 
the  account  thus 


336  LIFE   OF   FAEADAY. 

1854.  .  .  .  •  •  * 

"lEhTe-T  and  considering  that  I  have  little  or  nothing  to  say,  and 
you  are  a  young  man  in  full  vigour,  that  is  not  so  very 
bad  an  account  ;  so  be  gentle  with  your  failing  friend. 
*  Ever,  my  dear  friend,  affectionately  yours, 

«M.  FARADAY.' 

On  a  question  relating  to  the  Queen's  yacht,  he  thus 
writes  to  the  Hon.  Captain  Jos.  Denman. 

FARADAY   TO   THE   HON.    CAPTAIN   JOS.    DENMAN. 

'  Koyal  Institution  :  May  27,  1854. 

1  My  dear  Sir, — Your  letter  is  full  of  interest,  and  I 
feel  great  delight  that  any  conversation  in  which  I  had 
part  should  be  connected  with  so  just  an  application  of 
the  principles  of  natural  philosophy,  as  has  been  made 
by  His  Eoyal  Highness  Prince  Albert,  in  the  cases  of 
the  paddle-wheel  and  the  propeller. 

'  You  will  be  aware,  from  the  communication  of  his 
Eoyal  Highness,  that  all  practical  result  may  be  re- 
ferred to  the  following  facts.  A  disc  when  rotating 
resists  any  force  tending  to  alter  its  place,  so  as  to  change 
the  plane  of  its  rotation,  far  more  than  if  the  disc  were 
not  rotating,  and  the  resistance  is  the  greater  as  the 
body  is  heavier,  as  the  parts  have  greater  velocity  or 
momentum,  and  therefore  as  they  are  further  from  the 
axis  of  rotation,  and  as  the  change  of  place  is  greater. 
Now  the  force  of  the  paddle-wheels,  and  their  positions 
in  relation  to  a  steam  ship,  are  such  that  they  cannot 
but  affect  its  rolling,  and  their  tendency  will  be  to 
diminish  it.  You  will  understand  that  the  endeavour 
is  not  to  preserve  any  particular  plane  as  regards  the 
horizon,  but  that  in  which  the  disturbing  force  finds 


LETTERS   DURIXG  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  337 

the  rotating  disc  ;  so  if  a  wave  causes  the  vessel  to  roll,  1854. 
the  revolving  bodies  will  tend  to  resist  this  roll;  as  ^ET.  62. 
the  vessel  endeavours  to  recover  itself  the  tendency  will 
be  to  resist  the  recovery  also  ;  but,  on  the  whole,  the 
rolling  will  be  obstructed  and  diminished.  I  have 
always  considered  that  paddle-wheels  resist  and  diminish 
rolling  by  the  hold  the  descending  side  takes  (like  a 
hand  in  swimming)  upon  the  water  ;  but  I  have  not  the 
slightest  doubt  now,  that  they  will  act  by  the  effect  His 
Eoyal  Highness  has  pointed  out.  What  the  proportion 
may  be  I  cannot  say,  or  to  what  extent  the  weight  of 
seventy  tons  disposed  in  forms  about  thirty-two  feet  in 
diameter,  and  revolving  once  in  two  seconds,  would 
affect  a  ship  of  2300  tons.  But  I  should  expect  it 
would  be  very  appreciable,  and  should  not  be  surprised 
if  it  may  form  a  considerable  part  of  any  superiority 
which  paddle-wheels  have  over  screws. 

'  The  screw  you  refer  to,  though  it  would  revolve 
with  twice  the  velocity  of  the  paddle-wheels,  has  only 
half  their  diameter  and  a  third  of  their  weight ;  so 
that  it  would  present  much  less  resistance  to  change  of 
plane  than  the  latter.  Besides  this,  it  is  at  the  extremity 
of  the  vessel,  and  therefore  perhaps  six  or  eight  times 
as  far  from  the  horizontal  transverse  line  about  which 
the  ship  tends  to  revolve  when  pitching  as  the  paddle- 
wheels  are  from  the  horizontal  longitudinal  line  about 
which  the  ship  tends  to  revolve  when  rolling  ;  for  the 
short  motions  of  the  roll  will  be  much  more  resisted 
than  the  long  motion  of  the  pitch,  because  the  place  of 
rotation,  in  the  first  case,  is  more  quickly  changed.  I 
do  not  think  that  the  screw  would  tend  to  increase 
rolling  otherwise  than  as  it  would  replace  the  paddle- 
wheels,  which  tend  to  diminish  it. 

VOL.  n.  z 


338  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1854.  '  The  suggestion  of  His  Eoyal  Highness  in  regard 
.  JET.  62.  to  a  central  fly-wheel  is  highly  philosophic,  and  per- 
fectly justified  by  natural  principles.  -At  the  same  time, 
I  cannot  undertake  to  say  what  amount  of  effect  it  would 
produce  in  any  given  case.  Still  the  experiment  could 
be  made  so  simply  and  progressively  that  I  think  any 
marine  engineer  could  ascertain  the  point  practically 
in  a  very  few  days. 

1  Suppose  a  boat  with  a  heavy  disc  or  fly-wheel  fitted 
up  in  the  middle,  this  being  attached  by  running  bands 
to  an  axle  and  handles  in  the  fore  or  aft  parts,  so  that  a 
man  (or  two  men  if  needful)  could  get  the  fly  into 
rapid  rotation,  the  boat  being  of  such  size  that  a  third 
person,  standing  across  or  from  side  to  side,  could  by 
the  action  of  his  limbs  sway  her  right  and  left :  he 
might  do  this  when  the  fly  is  still,  and  also  when  in 
quick  motion :  he  would  soon  find  the  resistance  to  his 
efforts  in  the  latter  case,  and  then  a  judgment  might  be 
formed  as  to  the  result  of  a  larger  experiment  and  as 
to  the  application  to  a  ship.  If  more  convenient,  two 
fly-wheels  might  be  used,  one  on  each  side  of  the  boat, 
and  the  gear  and  men  be  in  the  middle  ;  but  the  first 
experiment  ought  to  be  made  with  a  boat  that  can  be 
easily  and  quickly  rocked,  or  the  results  will  not  be  so 
instructive  as  they  might  be. 

4  Though  I  have  spoken  thus  far  of  a  disc  revolving 
in  a  vertical  plane,  yet  it  is  of  course  evident  that  a 
horizontal  or  any  other  plane  may  be  selected,  pro- 
vided that  the  axis  of  rotation  is  perpendicular  to  the 
length  of  the  boat. 

'  Supposing  that  a  great  disc  or  fly-wheel  were 
revolving  in  the  inside  of  a  vessel  parallel  to  and  in 
the  same  direction  as  the  paddle-wheels,  and  a  wave 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  339 

were  to  affect  the  vessel,  rolling  her,  so  as  to  depress      1854. 
the  starboard  side,  the  resistance  set  up  by  the  disc    &?•  62. 
would  not  be  direct,  but  would  have  an  oblique  result, 
tending  to  turn  the  ship's  head  to  starboard.     Has  any- 
thing of  this  kind  been  distinguished  by  the  man  at 
the  wheel  ?    Probably  he  could  not  tell  it  from  the 
effect  due  to  immersion  of  the  starboard  paddle-wheel. 
In  the  boat  experiment  it  ought  to  be  sensible. 
'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  very  truly  yours, 

«  M.  FARADAY.' 

A  letter  to  Professor  de  la  Eive  shows  how  he  felt 
his  power  failing. 

FARADAY   TO    PROFESSOR  DE    LA   RIVE. 

'Koyal  Institution :  May  29,  1854. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — Though  feeling  weary  and  tired, 
I  cannot  resist  any  longer  conveying  to  you  my  sincere 
thanks  (however  feebly)  for  the  gift  of  your  work  in 
French.  I  have  delayed  doing  so  for  some  time,  hoping 
to  be  in  better  spirits,  but  will  delay  no  longer.  For 
delighted  as  I  have  been  in  the  reading  of  it,  my 
treacherous  memory  begins  to  let  loose  that  which  I 
gained  from  it ;  for  when  I  read  some  of  the  summaries 
a  second  time,  I  am  surprised  to  find  them  there,  and 
then  slowly  find  that  I  had  read  them  before.  The 
power  with  which  you  hold  the  numerous  parts  of  our 
great  department  of  science  in  your  mind  is  to  me 
most  astonishing  and  delightful,  and  the  accounts  you 
give  of  the  researches  of  the  workers,  and  especially 
those  of  Germany,  are  exceedingly  valuable  and  in- 
teresting to  me.  May  you  long  enjoy  and  use  this 
great  power  for  the  good  of  us  all.  We  shall  long  for 

z2 


340  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1854.     the  second  volume ;  but  we  must  have  patience,  for  it  is 
JET.  62/  a  great  work  that  you  are  engaged  in. 

'  You  sent  me  also  the  numbers  of  the  "Bibliotheque" 
for  January,  February,  and  March,  and  then  again 
your  kindness  to  me  is  deeply  manifested,  and  with  me 
is  deeply  felt ;  but  do  not  trouble  yourself  to  send  me 
the  succeeding  numbers,  for  I  have  the  work  here,  and 
see  it  with  great  interest,  for  it  is  to  me  a  channel  for 
much  matter  that  otherwise  would  escape  me  altogether. 
I  wish  I  could  send  you  matter  oftener,  but  my  wishes 
far  antimeasure  my  abilities.  My  portfolio  contains 
many  plans  for  work,  but  I  get  tired  with  ordinary 
occupation,  and  then  my  hands  lie  idle. 

'  Your  theoretical  views,  from  p.  557  and  onwards, 
have  interested  me  very  deeply,  and  I  am  glad  to  place 
them  in  my  mind,  by  the  side  of  those  ideas  which 
seem  to  aid  discovery  and  development  by  suggesting 
analogies  and  crucial  experiments,  and  other  forms  of 
test  for  the  views  which  arise  in  the  mind  as  vague 
shadows,  however  they  may  develope  into  brightness. 
I  have  always  a  great  difficulty  about  hypotheses,  from 
the  necessity  one  is  under  of  holding  them  loosely,  and 
suspending  the  mental  decision.  I  do  not  know 
whether  I  am  right  in  concluding  that  your  hypothesis 
supposes  that  there  can  only  be  a  few  atoms  in  each 
molecule,  and  that  these  are  arranged  as  a  disc,  or,  at 
all  events,  disc-fashioned,  i.e.  in  the  same  plane.  It  seems 
to  me  that  if  we  consider  a  molecule  in  its  three 
dimensions,  it  will  be  necessary  to  consider  the  atoms 
as  all  having  their  axis  in  planes  parallel  to  one  only 
of  these  directions,  however  numerous  these  atoms  may 
be.  I  speak,  of  course,  of  those  bodies  which  you  con- 
sider as  naturally  magnetic,  page  571.  Perhaps  when 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  341 

I  get  my  head  a  little  clearer,  I  may  be  able  to  see  more      1854. 
clearly  the  probable  arrangements  of  many  atoms  in     JET.  62. 
one  molecule.     But  for  the  present  I  must  refrain  from 
thinking  about  it. 

'  Our  united,  kindest  remembrance.  Ever,  my  dear 
friend,  your  faithful,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  September  15,  1854. 

*  My  dear  Schonbein, — Just  a  few  scattered  words  of 
kindness,  not  philosophy,  for  I  have  just  been  trying  to 
think  a  little  philosophy  (magnetical)  for  a  week  or 
two,  and  it  has  made  my  head  ache,  turned  me  sleepy 
in  the  day-time  as  well  as  at  nights,  and,  instead  of 
being  a  pleasure,  has  for  the  present  nauseated  me. 
Now  you  know  that  is  not  natural  to  me,  for  I  be- 
lieve nobody  has  found  greater  enjoyment  in  physical 
science  than  myself;  but  it  is  just  weariness,  which 
soon  comes  on,  but  I  hope  will  soon  go  off  by  a  little 
rest. 

'  The  July  letter  was  a  great  delight ;  both  your 
kindness  and  your  philosophy  most  acceptable  and 
refreshing.  I  hope  to  get  your  paper  translated,  but 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  vis  inertias  in  our  way,  and  I 
cannot  overcome  it,  as  I  would  wish  to  do.  It  is  the 
more  difficult  for  me  to  criticise  it,  because  I  feel  a 
good  deal  of  it  myself,  and  am  known  to  withdraw 
from  the  labour  and  responsibilities  of  scientific  work, 
and  this  makes  me  very  glad  that  you  have  got  hold  of 
Liebig,  for  I  hope  he  will  act  in  developing  your  ozone 
views. 

'  You  give  a  happy  account  of  your  family.     You 


342  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1854.     are  a  happy  man  to  have  such  a  family,  and  you  are 
JET.  62.    happy  in  the  temperament  which  fits  you  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  it.     May  God  bless  every  member  of  it  and 
yourself  with  a  cheerful  and  relying  spirit  and  love  to 
each  other.     Eemember  us  to  them  all. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  friend,  affectionately  yours, 

1  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.  TYNDALL.1 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  11,  1854. 

4  Many  thanks,  my  dear  Tyndall,  for  your  kind  letter, 
which  I  have  just  received.  I  was  anxious  about  you, 
thinking  you  might  be  confined  at  home  by  a  little 
indisposition  (as  you  would  call  it)  and  writing,  and 
should  probably  have  called  to-day  in  the  evening. 
Now  I  shall  rest,  knowing  how  it  is,  and  I  hope  you 
will  enjoy  the  weather,  and  the  quietness,  and  the  time 
of  work,  and  the  time  of  play,  finding  them  all 
ministrants  to  your  health  and  contented  happiness. 

'  Here  we  jog  on,  and  I  have  just  undertaken  the 
Juvenile  Lectures  at  Christmas,  thinking  them  the  easiest 
thing  for  me  to  do.  Eeading  Matteucci  carefully,  and 
also  an  abstracted  translation  of  Van  Bees'  paper,  is  my 
weighty  work,  and  because  of  the  call  it  makes  on 
memory  I  have  now  and  then  to  lay  them  down  and 
cease  till  the  morrow.  I  think  they  encourage  me  to 
write  another  paper  on  lines  of  force,  polarity,  &c.,  for 
I  was  hardly  prepared  to  find  such  strong  support  in 
the  papers  of  Van  Eees  and  Thomson  for  the  lines  as 
correct  representants  of  the  power  and  its  direction ; 
and  many  old  arguments  are  renewed  in  my  mind  by 

1  In  1853,  Dr.  Tyndall  became  Professor  of  Physics  in  the  Royal 
Institution. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER    PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  343 

these  papers.     But  we  shall  see  how  the  maggot  bites     1855. 
presently ;  and  as  I  fancy  I  have  gained  so  much  by  ^Ex.63-64. 
waiting,  I  may  perhaps  wait  a  little  longer. 
'  Ever,  my  dear  Tyndall,  yours  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  year  1855  brought  the  series  of  experimental  re- 
searches in  electricity  to  a  close.  It  began  in  1831  with 
his  greatest  discoveries,  the  induction  of  electric  currents, 
and  the  evolution  of  electricity  from  magnetism  ;  then  it 
continued  with  terrestrial  magneto-electric  induction ; 
then  with  the  identities  of  electricity  from  different 
sources ;  then  with  conducting  power  generally.  Then 
came  electro-chemical  decomposition  ;  then  the  elec- 
tricity of  the  voltaic  pile  ;  then  the  induction  of  a  cur- 
rent on  itself ;  then  static  induction;  then  the  nature 
of  the  electric  force  or  forces,  and  the  character  of  the 
electric  force  in  the  gyinnotus ;  then  the  source  of 
power  in  the  voltaic  pile ;  then  the  electricity  evolved 
by  friction  of  steam ;  then  the  magnetisation  of  light 
and  the  illumination  of  magnetic  lines  of  force ;  then 
new  magnetic  actions,  and  the  magnetic  condition  of 
all  matter  ;  then  the  crystalline  polarity  of  bismuth  and 
its  relation  to  the  magnetic  form  of  force ;  then  the 
possible  relation  of  gravity  to  electricity;  then  the 
magnetic  and  diamagnetic  condition  of  bodies,  including 
oxygen  and  nitrogen  ;  then  atmospheric  magnetism  ; 
then  the  lines  of  magnetic  force,  and  the  employment 
of  induced  magneto-electric  currents  as  their  test  and 
measure  ;  and  lastly  the  constancy  of  differential  magne- 
crystallic  force  in  different  media,  the  action  of  heat 
on  magne-crystals,  and  the  effect  of  heat  upon  the 
absolute  magnetic  force  of  bodies. 


344  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1855.  The  record  of  this  work,  which  he  has  left  in  his 
jEx.63-64.  manuscripts  and  republished  in  his  three  volumes  of 
4  Electrical  Eesearches,'  from  the  papers  in  the  '  Philo- 
sophical Transactions,'  will  ever  remain  as  his  noblest 
monument — full  of  genius  in  the  conception — full  of 
finished  and  most  accurate  work  in  execution — in 
quantity  so  vast  that  it  seems  impossible  one  man 
could  have  done  so  much ;  and  this  amount  of  work 
appeared  still  more  remarkable  to  those  who  knew 
that  Anderson's  help  might  be  summed  up  in  two 
words — blind  obedience. 

The  use  of  magneto-electricity  in  induction  machines, 
in  electrotyping,  and  in  lighthouses,  are  the  most  im- 
portant practical  applications  of  the  '  Experimental 
Eesearches  in  Electricity ; '  but  it  is  vain  to  attempt  to 
measure  the  stimulus  and  the  assistance  whjch  these 
researches  have  given,  and  will  give,  to  other  in- 
vestigators. 

Lastly,  the  circumstances  under  which  this  work 
was  done  were  those  of  penury.  During  a  great  part 
of  these  twenty-six  years  the  Eoyal  Institution  was 
kept  alive  by  the  lectures  which  Faraday  gave  for  it. 
'We  were  living,'  as  he  once  said  to  the  managers, 
'  on  the  parings  of  our  own  skin.'  He  noted  even  the 
expenditure  of  the  farthings  in  research  and  apparatus. 
He  had  no  grant  from  the  Eoyal  Society,  and  through- 
out almost  the  whole  of  this  time  the  fixed  income 
which  the  Institution  could  afford  to  give  him  was 
100£.  a  year,  to  which  the  Fullerian  professorship 
added  nearly  100/.  more. 

By   the  *  Experimental   Eesearches  in   Electricity,' 

Faraday's  scientific  life  may  be  divided  into  three  parts. 

i         The  first,  or  preparatory  period,  lasted  to  1830,  when 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD   OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  345 

he  was  thirty-nine ;  the  second,  or  '  research  period,'      1855. 
lasted  to  1855,  when  he  was  sixty-four ;  and  the  third  ^ET.63-64. 
period  of  decline  began  in  1856  and  continued  to  his 
last  report  to  the  Trinity  House  in  1865.     His  scientific 
work  was  carried  on  for  fifty-two  years.    Out  of  these 
the  'Experimental  Eesearches  in  Electricity'  occupied 
more  or  less  of  twenty-six  years. 

The  following  letter  from  Professor  Eeiss,  of  Berlin, 
the  greatest  statical  electrician  in  Europe,  shows  how 
the  importance  of  Faraday's  '  Eesearches  in  Electricity ' 
was  recognised  abroad. 

PROFESSOR   REISS   TO   FARADAY. 

'Berlin:  August  9,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — Eeturning  from  a  journey  in  Silesia, 
I  had  yesterday  the  great  pleasure  to  find,  as  a  present 
from  you,  the  third  volume  of  the  "  Experimental  Ee- 
searches." What  a  wonderful  work  these  researches 
are  in  every  respect!  Incomparable  for  exhibiting -the 
greatest  progresses  for  which  science  ever  was  indebted 
to  the  genius  of  a  single  philosopher,  highly  instructive 
by  indicating  the  means  whereby  the  great  results  were 
found. 

'  If  Newton,  not  quite  without  reason,  has  been  com- 
pared to  a  man  who  ascends  to  the  top  of  a  building  by 
the  help  of  a  ladder,  and  cuts  away  most  of  the  steps 
after  he  has  done  with  them,  it  must  be  said  that  you 
have  left  to  the  follower,  with  scrupulous  fidelity, 
the  ladder  in  the  same  state  as  you  have  made  use 
of  it. 

'  Accept  my  warmest  thanks  for  your  great  kindness, 


346  LIFE  OF   FARADAY. 

1855.     to  have  laid  in  my  hands  the  object  of  rny  continual 
JET.63-64.    study  and  admiration. 

'And  believe  me,  dear  Sir,  ever  to  be  yours  most 
faithfully,  'P.  EEISS.' 


The  laboratory  work  in  1855  was  again  on  magne- 
crystallic  force.  The  action  of  magnetic  bodies  in 
different  media,  and  at  different  temperatures,  was  the 
subject  of  the  thirtieth  series  of  '  Experimental  Ee- 
searches  in  Electricity.'  In  this  paper  he  uses  his  lines 
of  force  '  as  a  true,  searching,  and  as  yet  never-failing 
representative  of  the  one  form  of  power  possessed  by 
paramagnets,  diamagnets,  and  electric  currents. '  In  any 
view  of  the  cause  of  magnetic  action,  the  results 
(obtained  by  experiment)  are  true,  and  must  therefore 
be  valuable.  To  a  friend  he  writes  :  '  My  recent  labour 
has  not  been  very  productive,  and  yet  it  is  an  aid  to 
magnetic  science,  and  indeed  a  very  curious  one,  only 
its  curiosity  and  interest  will  not  appear  so  much  now 
as  hereafter.' 

This  was  the  last  of  the  papers  on  electricity  which 
he  sent  to  the  Koyal  Society,  although  he  still  worked 
on  in  the  hope  of  further  discovery.  In  August,  Sep- 
tember and  October,  his  note-book  shows  that  time  in 
relation  to  magnetic  force  was  the  subject  of  research. 
He  also  thoroughly  examined  Euhmkorff's  induction 
apparatus,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  he  again  made 
experiments  on  the  relations  of  light  arid  magnetism, 
but  he  obtained  only  negative  results. 

In  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine  '  for  June  there  was 
the  translation  of  a  paper  by  Dr.  P.  Eeiss,  of  Berlin,  on 
Faraday's  views  regarding  the  action  of  non-conducting 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  347 

bodies  in  electric  induction.  To  this,  Faraday  sent  a  1855. 
reply  in  November,  and  this  was  published  with  the  jBr.63-64. 
answer  of  Dr.  P.  Eeiss,  in  the  '  Philosophical  Magazine  ' 
for  January  1856.  Faraday  added  some  foot-notes, 
and  says  :  '  I  trust  they  will  be  received,  not  as  exciting 
discussion  about  hypothesis,  but  simply  in  explication 
(to  the  reader)  of  my  own  view.  It  is  not  the  duty  or 
place  of  a  philosopher  to  dictate  belief,  and  all  hypo- 
thesis is  more  or  less  matter  of  belief;  he  has  but  to 
give  his  facts,  and  his  conclusions,  and  so  much  of  the 
logic  which  connects  the  former  with  the  latter  as  he 
may  think  necessary,  and  then  to  commit  the  whole  to 
the  scientific  world  for  present,  and,  as  he  may  some- 
times without  presumption  believe,  for  future  judgment.' 

For  the  Eoyal  Institution,  his  first  Friday  evening 
discourse  was  on  some  points  of  magnetic  philosophy, 
and  on  gravity.  This  was  a  popular  view  of  the  paper 
which  he  had  sent  at  the  end  of  the  previous  year  to 
the  '  Philosophical  Magazine.' 

A  correspondence  which  took  place  in  consequence 
of  this  lecture  is  of  some  interest. 


PROFESSOR  AIRY  TO  REV.  JOHN  BARLOW. 

'February?,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — You  called  my  attention  to  Faraday's 
paper  about  lines  of  force ;  in  some  measure  I  think,  to 
ask  my  opinion  on  the  question  therein  treated. 

1  The  following  may  be  taken  as  nearly  expounding 
my  present  views  : — 

'  1.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  question  ought  to  be  split 
into  two,  namely,  (a)  Is  there  any  reason  for  treating 
the  influences  of  magnetism  in  any  way  different  from 


348  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1855.  the  way  of  treating  the  effects  of  gravitation,  &c.  ?  (b) 
ir.63-64.  Are  these  influences  to  be  considered  as  influences  re- 
lated to  space,  or  related  to  the  bodies  sustaining  their 
action  ? 

'  2.  On  question  (a)  I  give  my  opinion  without  mis- 
giving, as  regards  the  mechanical  effects.  The  effect  of 
a  magnet  upon  another  magnet  may  be  represented 
perfectly  by  supposing  that  certain  parts  act  just  as  if 
they  pulled  by  a  string,  and  that  certain  other  parts 
act  just  as  if  they  pushed  with  a  stick.  And  the 
representation  is  not  vague,  but  is  a  matter  of  strict 
numerical  calculation  ;  and  when  this  calculation  is 
made  on  the  simple  law  of  the  inverse  square  of  dis- 
tance, it  does  (numerically)  represent  the  phenomena 
with  precision.  I  can  answer  for  this,  because  we  are 
perpetually  making  this  very  calculation.  I  know  the 
difficulty  of  predicating  the  effects  of  evidence  on  other 
people's  minds,  but  I  declare  that  I  can  hardly  imagine 
anyone  who  practically  and  numerically  knows  this 
agreement,  to  hesitate  an  instant  in  the  choice  between 
this  simple  and  precise  action,  on  the  one  hand,  and 
anything  so  vague  and  varying  as  lines  of  force,  on  the 
other  hand. 

'You  know  the  French  mathematicians  have  cal- 
culated the  effect  of  induction  accurately  on  the  same 
laws. 

'  3.  On  the  metaphysical  question  (b)  I  have  only 
one  remark  to  make.  I  do  not  think  Faraday's  remark 
on  the  bringing  a  new  body  into  space  is  pertinent, 
because  no  new  body  is  brought  into  space.  We  all 
start  with  the  notion  that  the  quantity  of  the  mysterious 
uTro<TTOL<ri$  is  never  altered.  Therefore,  when  I  con- 
template gravitation,  I  contemplate  it  as  a  relation 


LETTEKS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  349 

between  two  particles,  and  not  as  a  relation  between  1855. 
one  particle  (called  the  attracting  particle)  and  the  space  ^ET.63-64. 
in  which  the  other  (called  the  attracted  particle)  finds 
itself  for  the  moment.  I  contemplate  it  as  a  relation 
between  two  particles,  which  relation  (mechanically 
considered)  has  respect  to  different  directions,  and  has 
varying  magnitude  :  the  said  direction  and  magnitude 
having  very  simple  relations  with  the  relative  direction 
and  magnitude  of  the  two  particles.  I  can  easily  con- 
ceive that  there  are  plenty  of  bodies  about  us  not  sub- 
ject to  this  intermutual  action,  and  therefore  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  gravitation. 

'  I  dare  say  that  Faraday  will  not  be  offended  with  this. 
'I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

'  G.  B.  AIRY.' 


PROFESSOR   AIRY   TO   REV.    JOHN   BARLOW. 

'  February  26,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  been  obliged  sometimes  to 
explain  that  since  the  reign  of  good  king  Rowland  Hill 
began,  one  idea  per  letter  is  my  tariff,  and  request  you 
to  understand  this  on  the  present  occasion.  Moreover, 
in  this  instance,  said  idea  is  only  a  supplementary  idea. 
It  is  this  :  in  writing  on  Faraday's  philosophy,  I  said 
that  I  contemplated  gravitation  not  as  a  relation  between 
an  attracting  body  and  space,  but  as  a  relation  between 
two  attracting  bodies ;  but  I  omitted  to  point  out  that 
this  view  appears  to  me  to  be  in  some  measure  es- 
tablished by  the  fact  that  a  body  which  attracts  is  ipso 
facto  attracted  according  to  the  same  law.  The  land 
and  water  of  the  earth  attract  the  moon  ;  but  the  moon 
also  attracts  the  land  and  water,  and  produces  tides 


350  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1855.     and  precession.     The  earth's  attraction  on  the  moon 
MT.  63.    diminishes   when   the   moon   is   in   apogee ;   so   does 
the   moon's   attraction   on   the   earth ;    and   produces 
small  tides. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

'  G.  B.  AIRY.' 


FARADAY  TO  REV.  JOHN  BARLOW. 

'  Royal  Institution :  February  28,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Barlow,—  I  return  you  Airy's  second  note. 
I  think  he  must  be  involved  in  some  mystery  about  my 
views  and  papers ;  at  all  events,  his  notes  mystify  me. 
In  the  first,  he  splits  the  question  into  (a)  action  in- 
versely as  the  square  of  the  distance,  and  (b)  meta- 
physics. What  the  first  has  to  do  with  my  considera- 
tion, I  cannot  make  out.  I  do  not  deny  the  law  of 
action  referred  to  in  all  like  cases ;  nor  is  there  any  differ- 
ence as  to  the  mathematical  results  (at  least,  if  I  un- 
derstand Thomson  and  Van  Rees),  whether  he  takes 
the  results  according  to  my  view  or  that  of  the  French 
mathematicians.  Why,  then,  talk  about  the  inverse 
square  of  the  distance  ?  I  had  to  warn  my  audience 
against  the  sound  of  this  law  and  its  supposed  opposi- 
tion on  my  Friday  evening,  and  Airy's  note  shows  that 
the  warning  was  needful.  I  suppose  all  magneticians 
who  admit  differences  in  what  is  called  magnetic  satu- 
ration in  different  bodies,  will  also  admit  that  there 
may  be  and  are  cases  in  which  the  law  of  the  inverse 
square  of  the  distance  may  not  apply  to  magnetic 
action  ;  but  such  cases  are  entirely  out  of  the  present 
consideration. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  351 

'  As  to  the  metaphysical  question,  as  it  is  called.  If  1855. 
the  admitted  theory  of  gravitation  will  not  permit  us  to  ^ET.  63 
suppose  a  new  body  brought  into  space,  so  that  we  may 
contemplate  its  effects,  I  think  it  must  be  but  a  poor 
theory ;  but  I  do  not  want  a  new  body  for  my  specula- 
tions, for,  as  I  have  said  in  the  Friday  evening  paper, 
the  motions  of  either  planet  or  comet  in  an  ellipse  is 
sufficient  base  for  the  strict  philosophical  reasoning ; 
and  if  the  theory  will  not  permit  us  to  ask  a  question 
about  the  conservation  of  force,  then  I  think  it  must  be 
very  weak  in  its  legs.  The  matter  in  the  second  note 
is  quite  in  accordance  with  my  views  as  far  as  it  goes, 
only  there  is  at  the  end  of  it  a  question  which  arises, 
and  remains  unanswered  :  When  the  attractive  forces 
of  the  earth  and  moon  in  respect  of  each  other  diminish, 
what  becomes  of  them,  i.e.  of  the  portions  which  dis- 


appear ? 


1  Ever,  my  dear  Barlow,  yours  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


PROFESSOR   AIRY    TO    REV.    JOHN   BARLOW. 

'  Roj'al  Observatory,  Greenwich  :  March  3,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  am  much  obliged  for  the  sight  of 
Faraday's  note,  which  I  have  carefully  read,  and  which 
I  now  return  to  you,  but  without  comment.  For  what 
sayeth  Ulysses  in  Pope's  "  Homer  "  ?  (at  least  said  so 
more  than  forty  years  ago,  the  last  time  that  I  had  an 
opportunity  of  learning  his  sentiments  in  English)  : 

Shall  I  with  brave  Laodamus  contend  ? 
A  friend  is  sacred,  and  I  style  him  friend. 

I  think  that  my  two  notes  have  put  you  in  possession 


352  LIFE    OF    FARADAT. 

1855.     of  my  thoughts  on  the  question,  and  that  is  all  that  I 
2ET.63-64.  desire. 

'  Yours,  my  dear  Sir,  very  truly, 

'  G.  B.  AIKY.' 

, 

For  the  Institution  he  gave  two  more  Friday  evening 
lectures;  one  on  the  experiments  he  had  made  on 
electric  conduction,  which  he  described  the  previous 
year  in  a  letter  to  Professor  de  la  Eive.  At  the  end 
of  this  lecture  he  said :  '  But  we  must  not  dogmatize 
on  natural  actions,  or  decide  upon  their  physical  nature 
without  proof;  and,  indeed,  the  two  modes  of  electric 
action,  the  electrolytic  and  the  static,  are  so  different, 
yet  each  so  important  (the  one  doing  all  by  quantity  at 
very  low  intensities  ;  the  other  all  by  intensity,  without 
scarcely  any  proportionate  quantity),  that  it  would  be 
dangerous  to  deny  too  hastily  the  conduction  proper  to 
a  few  cases  in  static  induction,  whilst  it  is  known  to  be 
essential  to  the  many  only  because  electrolytic  conduc- 
tion is  essential  to  electrolytic  action.' 

He  gave  the  Christinas  Lectures  on  the  metals. 

For  the  Trinity  House  he  only  went  to  Birmingham 
to  examine  some  apparatus  at  Chance's  glass  works. 

ii. 

He  was  made  Honorary  Member  of  the  Imperial 
Society  of  Naturalists,  Moscow;  Corresponding  Associate 
of  the  Imperial  Institute  of  Sciences  of  Lombardy. 

This  year,  on  the  application  of  his  friend  M.  Dumas, 
he  was  made  Commander  of  the  Legion  of  Honour, 
and  received  the  Grand  Medal  of  Honour  of  the  French 
Exhibition  for  his  discoveries.  Early  in  the  next  year 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD   OF  HIS   RESEARCHES.  353 

Faraday  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  Emperor,  and      1856. 
enclosed  it  to  M.  de  Persigny,  the  French  Ambassador    MT.  e*. 


in  England. 


FARADAY  TO  HIS  EXCELLENCY  THE  COUNT  F.  DE  PERSIGNY. 
1  Eoyal  Institution  :  January  19,  1856. 

4  M.  le  Count, — I  am  led  to  believe  that  I  ought  to 
thank  the  Emperor  personally  for  the  high  honour  he 
has  done  me  in  creating  me  a  Commander  of  the  Legion 
of  Honour,  especially  when  I  call  to  remembrance 
circumstances  of  personal  communication  in  former 
times. 

'  May  I  beg  the  favour  of  the  conveyance  of  the 
enclosed  to  its  high  destination. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  remain,  your  Excellency's 
most  humble,  obedient  servant, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO    HIS    IMPERIAL   MAJESTY    THE    EMPEROR. 
'  Royal  Institution :  January  19,  1856. 

4  Sire, — I  fear  to  intrude,  yet  I  also  fear  to  seem  un- 
grateful ;  and  before  your  Majesty  I  would  rather  risk 
the  former  than  the  latter.  I  know  not  how  to  return 
fit  thanks  for  the  high  and  most  unexpected  honour 
which  your  Imperial  Majesty  has  conferred  upon 
me  in  the  gift  of  the  Degree  of  Commandant  of  the 
Legion  of  Honour.  I  cannot  promise  to  deserve  it  by 
the  future,  for  the  effects  of  time  tell  me  there  are  no 
hopes  that  I  should  hereafter  work  for  science  as  in 
past  years.  I  can  only  offer  a  most  grateful  and  un- 
failing remembrance  of  that  which  to  me  is  more  than 
honour — of  the  kindness  of  your  Imperial  Majesty  to 

VOL.  II.  A  A 


354  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1856.     one  such  as  I  am  ;  and  I  feel  deeply  affected  by  the 
JET.  ei.    thought  that  even  I,  by  your  Majesty's  favour,  form 
one  link,  though  a  very  small  one,  in  the  bands  which 
I  hope  will  ever  unite  France  and  England. 

'  Hoping  and  believing  that  your  Majesty  will  accept 
my  earnest  thanks  and  deep-seated  wishes  for  your 
Majesty  in  all  things,  I  venture  to  sign  myself  as 

'  Your  Imperial  Majesty's  most  humble  and  most 
grateful  servant,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 

M.  Dumas  heard  in  April  that  Faraday  had  not  re- 
ceived the  insignia  of  Commander  of  the  Order  of  the 
Legion  of  Honour.  He  asked  Faraday  to  send  him  a 
note  addressed  to  the  Grand  Chancellor,  to  ask  for  the 
insignia,  which,  in  consequence  of  his  absence,  he  was 
prevented  from  receiving  from  the  hands  of  the 
Emperor. 

Faraday  in  consequence  wrote  to  the  Grand  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Legion  of  Honour  : — 

FARADAY  TO  THE  CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  LEGION  OF  HONOUR. 

1  London  :  April  28,  1856. 

4  Monseignor, — Though  feeling  quite  unworthy  of 
the  high  distinction  done  me  by  the  Emperor  when  he 
deigned  to  confer  upon  me  the  degree  of  Commander 
of  the  Legion  of  Honour,  I  am  still  unwilling  to  resign 
any  part  of  that  distinction.  I  was  in  the  country 
because  of  ill  health,  and  therefore  unable  to  be  at 
Paris  at  the  time  when  His  Majesty  distributed  the 
marks  of  his  pleasure ;  but  being  encouraged  by  my 
scientific  friends,  I  venture  to  apply  to  your  Excellency 
for  the  insignia  of  the  degree,  and  hope  that  the 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  355 

estimation  in  which  I  hold  the  honour  may  be  in  some      1855. 
measure  an  excuse  for  the  liberty  I  am  taking.  ^ET'.GS. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be  your  Excellency's  most 
humble  and  obedient  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

On  May  13  the  cross  and  collar  were  sent  to  M. 
Dumas,  with  an  explanation  that  in  consequence  of 
Mr.  Faraday's  absence,  the  collar  intended  for  him  had 
been  placed  by  the  Emperor  round  the  neck  of  M. 
Delacroix,  the  great  painter.  M.  Dumas  wrote  to 
Faraday  : — '  J'estime  que  M.  Delacroix  est  bien  heu- 
reux  de  porter  quelque  chose  qui  vous  appartenait.' 

III. 

Several  letters  in  1855  also  show  his  nature,  his 
thoughts,  and  his  character.  The  most  remarkable  of 
these  was  published  in  the  '  Times  '  of  July  9,  on  the 
state  of  the  river  Thames. 

To  Professor  Schonbein  he  writes  of  his  own  state  of 
health. 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHOXBEIN. 

1  Hastings :  April  6,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  have  brought  your  letter  here, 
that  I  might  answer  its  great  kindness  at  some  time 
when  I  could  remember  quietly  all  the  pleasure  I  have  . 
had  since  the  time  I  first  knew  you.  I  say  remember 
it  all,  but  that  I  cannot  do ;  for  as  a  fresh  incident 
creeps  dimly  into  view,  I  lose  sight  of  the  old  ones,  and 
I  cannot  tell  how  many  are  forgotten  altogether.  But 


356  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1855.  think  kindly  of  your  old  friend;  you  know  it  is  not 
*~JET.  63.  willingly,  but  of  natural  necessity,  that  his  impressions 
fade  away.  I  cannot  tell  what  sort  of  a  portrait  you 
have  made  of  me ; 1  all  I  can  say  is,  that  whatever  it 
may  be  I  doubt  whether  I  should  be  able  to  remember 
it ;  indeed,  I  may  say,  I  know  I  should  not,  for  I  have 
just  been  under  the  sculptor's  hands,  and  I  look  at 
the  clay,  and  I  look  at  the  marble,  and  I  look  in  the 
glass,  and  the  more  I  look  the  less  I  know  about  the 
matter,  and  the  more  uncertain  I  become.  But  it  is  of 
no  great  consequence ;  label  the  marble,  and  it  will  do 
just  as  well  as  if  it  were  like.  The  imperishable  marble 
of  your  book  will  surely  flatter. 

'  You  describe  your  state  as  a  very  happy  one — 
healthy,  idle,  and  comfortable.  Is  it  indeed  so?  or 
are  you  laying  up  thoughts  which  are  to  spring  out 
into  a  rich  harvest  of  intellectual  produce  ?  I  cannot 
imagine  you  a  do-nothing,  as  I  am.  Your  very  idleness 
must  be  activity.  As  for  your  book,  it  makes  me  mad 
to  think  I  shall  lose  it.  There  was  the  other  (which 
the  "  Athena3um  "  or  some  other  periodical  reviewed) 
in  German,  but  we  never  saw  it  in  English.  I  often 
lent  it  to  others,  and  heard  expressions  of  their  enjoy- 
ment, and  sometimes  had  snatches  out  of  it,  but  to  me 
it  was  a  shut  book.  How  often  have  I  desired  to  learn 
German,  but  headache  and  giddiness  have  stopped  it. 

4 1  feel  as  if  I  had  pretty  well  worked  out  my  stock 
of  original  matter,  and  have  power  to  do  little  more 
than  reconsider  the  old  thoughts.  A  friend  of  mine  will 
in  the  course  of  a  month  or  two,  put  the  paper  I  speak 
of  (in  the  "  Philosophical  Magazine ")  in  your  way. 
You  will  therein  perceive  that  I  am  as  strong  as  ever 

1  In  a  German  book. 


LETTERS  DURING  THE   LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  357 

in  the  matter  of  lines  of  magnetic  force  and  a  magnetic  1855. 
medium  ;  and,  what  is  more,  I  think  that  men  are  begin-  jEt.  63. 
ning  to  look  more  closely  to  the  matter  than  they  have 
done  heretofore,  and  find  it  a  more  serious  affair  than 
they  expected.  My  own  convictions  and  expectations 
increase  continually ;  that,  you  will  say,  is  because  I 
become  more  and  more  familiar  with  the  idea.  It  may 
be  so,  and  in  some  manner  must  be  so ;  but  I  always 
tried  to  be  very  critical  on  myself  before  I  gave  any- 
body else  the  opportunity,  and  even  now  I  think  I 
could  say  much  stronger  things  against  my  notions 
than  anybody  else  has.  Still  the  old  views  are  so 
utterly  untenable  as  a  whole,  that  I  am  clear  they 
must  be  wrong,  whatever  is  right. 

'  Our  kindest  remembrances  also  to  Mrs.  Schonbein, 
and  the  favourable  family  critics.  I  can  just  imagine 
them  hearing  you  read  your  MS.,  and  flattering  you  up, 
and  then  giving  you  a  sly  mischievous  mental  poke  in 
the  ribs,  &c.  They  cannot  think  better  of  you  than  I  do. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  your  attached  friend, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Mr.  W.  Cox  wrote  to  Faraday  : — 

'  Sir, — I  have  staying  here  with  me  Mr.  Home,  who 
is  a  medium  for  spiritual  demonstrations,  and  shall  be 
very  happy  to  give  you  the  opportunity  to  show  tables 
and  chairs  moving,  and  other  phenomena  much  more 
extraordinary,  without  any  person  being  NEAR.' 

Faraday  answered : — 

'  Koyal  Institution. 

'  Mr.  Faraday  is  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Cox,  but  he 
will  not  trouble  him.  Mr.  Faraday  has  lost  too  much 
time  about  such  matters  already.' 


358  LIFE    OF   FARADAY, 

1855.          Mr.  Cox  replied  : — 

JET.  63.         ( g«r^ — YOU  are  Wrong  in  not  seeing  me.    I  have  facts 
which  are  at  your  service  NOW.     After  to-day  they 

will  belong  to  others. 

*  Eespectfully  yours, 

'  W.  Cox.' 

FARADAY   TO   THE   EDITOR   OF   THE    'TIMES.' 

'  Royal  Institution  :  July  7, 1855. 

4  Sir, — I  traversed  this  day  by  steamboat  the  space 
between  London  and  Hungerford  Bridges,  between 
half-past  one  and  two  o'clock.  It  was  low  water,  and 
I  think  the  tide  must  have  been  near  the  turn.  The 
appearance  and  smell  of  the  water  forced  themselves  at 
once  on  my  attention.  The  whole  of  the  river  was  an 
opaque  pale  brown  fluid.  In  order  to  test  the  degree 
of  opacity,  I  tore  up  some  white  cards  into  pieces,  and 
then  moistened  them,  so  as  to  make  them  sink  easily 
below  the  surface,  and  then  dropped  some  of  these 
pieces  into  the  water  at  every  pier  the  boat  came  to. 
Before  they  had  sunk  an  inch  below  the  surface  they 
were  undistinguishable,  though  the  sun  shone  brightly 
at  the  time,  and  when  the  pieces  fell  edgeways  the 
lower  part  was  hidden  from  sight  before  the  upper  part 
was  under  water. 

'This  happened  at  St.  Paul's  Wharf,  Blackfriars 
Bridge,  Temple  Wharf,  Southwark  Bridge,  and  Hunger- 
ford,  and  I  have  no  doubt  would  have  occurred  further 
up  and  down  the  river.  Near  the  bridges  the  feculence 
rolled  up  in  clouds  so  dense  that  they  were  visible  at 
the  surface  even  in  water  of  this  kind. 

'  The  smell  was  very  bad,  and  common  to  the  whole 
of  the  water.  It  was  the  same  as  that  which  now 


LETTERS  DURING  THE  LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  359 

comes  up  from  the  gully  holes  in  the  streets.     The      1855. 
whole  river  was  for  the  time  a  real  sewer.     Having     ^ET.  63. 
just  returned  from  the  country  air,  I  was  perhaps  more 
affected  by  it  than  others  ;  but  I  do  not  think  that  I 
could  have  gone  on  to  Lambeth  or  Chelsea,  and  I  was 
glad   to  enter  the  streets  for  an  atmosphere  which, 
except  near  the  sink-holes,  I  found  much  sweeter  than 
on  the  river. 

'  I  have  thought  it  a  duty  to  record  these  facts,  that 
they  may  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  those  who 
exercise  power,  or  have  responsibility  in  relation  to  the 
condition  of  our  river.  There  is  nothing  figurative  in 
the  words  I  have  employed,  or  any  approach  to  exag- 
geration. They  are  the  simple  truth. 

'  If  there  be  sufficient  authority  to  remove  a  putre- 
scent  pond  from  the  neighbourhood  of  a  few  simple 
dwellings,  surely  the  river  which  flows  for  so  many 
miles'  through  London  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to 
become  a  fermenting  sewer.  The  condition  in  which  I 
saw  the  Thames  may  perhaps  be  considered  as  excep- 
tional, but  it  ought  to  be  an  impossible  state ;  instead 
of  which,  I  fear  it  is  rapidly  becoming  the  general 
condition.  If  we  neglect  this  subject,  we  cannot  expect 
to  do  so  with  impunity  ;  nor  ought  we  to  be  surprised 
if,  ere  many  years  are  over,  a  season  give  us  sad  proof 
of  the  folly  of  our  carelessness. 

'  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

1 M.  FARADAY/ 

The  Admiralty  requested  his  opinion  regarding 
Crews's  patent  disinfecting  powder,  and  Crews 's  anti- 
miasma  lamp,  to  be  used  in  ships  and  hospitals.  He 
replied  to  Thomas  Phinn,  Esq.,  M.P.  :— 


360  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 


FARADAY   TO   THE    SECRETARY    OF   THE    ADMIRALTY. 
1  Royal  Institution :  August  27,  1855. 

'  Sir, — I  am  sure  that  when  the  Lords  Commissioners 
of  the  Admiralty  look  again  at  the  enclosed  printed 
advertising  paper  which  you  have  sent  to  me,  and  which 
I  return  herewith,  they  will  see  that  it  is  not  such  a 
document  as  I  can  be  expected  to  give  an  opinion  upon. 
My  Lords  will  do  me  the  favour  to  remember  that,  as  I 
have  said  on  former  occasions,  though  I  am  always 
willing  to  help  the  Government  in  important  cases,  and 
when  it  is  thought  that  others  cannot  give  satisfactory 
information,  still  I  am  not  professional ;  and  being 
engaged  in  deep  philosophic  research,  am  desirous  of 
having  my  time  and  thoughts  as  little  engaged  by 
extraneous  matters  as  possible. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  very  obedient 
servant,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 

To  Professor  Matteucci  he  wrote  his  views  regarding 
the  lines  of  force  and  Tyndall's  work  on  the  relations 
of  paramagnetic  and  diamagnetic  bodies. 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   MATTEUCCI. 

'  November  2,  1855. 

'  My  dear  Matteucci, — When  I  received  your  last,  of 
October  23, 1  knew  that  Tyndall  would  return  from  the 
country  in  a  day  or  two,  and  so  waited  until  he  came. 
I  had  before  that  told  him  of  your  desire  to  have  a 
copy  of  his  paper,  and  I  think  he  said  he  would  send 
it  to  you  ;  I  have  always  concluded  he  did  so,  and 
therefore  thought  it  best  to  continue  the  same  open 
practice  and  show  him  your  last  letter,  note  and  all. 
As  I  expected,  he  expressed  himself  greatly  obliged  by 


LETTERS  DURING  THE   LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  361 

your  consideration,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  think  on,  1855. 
and  repeat,  your  form  of  experiment ;  but  he  wished  ^ET.  64. 
you  to  have  no  difficulty  on  his  account.  I  conclude 
he  is  quite  assured  in  his  own  mind,  but  does  not  for  a 
moment  object  to  counter  views,  or  to  their  publication  : 
and  I  think  feels  a  little  annoyed  that  you  should 
imagine  for  a  moment  that  he  would  object  to  or  be 
embarrassed  by  your  publication.  I  think  in  that 
respect  he  is  of  my  mind,  that  we  are  all  liable  to 
error,  but  that  we  love  the  truth,  and  speak  only  what 
at  the  time  we  think  to  be  truth  ;  and  ought  not  to 
take  offence  when  proved  to  be  in  error,  since  the  error 
is  not  intentional ;  but  be  a  little  humbled,  and  so  turn 
the  correction  of  the  error  to  good  account.  I  cannot 
help  thinking  that  there  are  many  apparent  differences 
amongst  us,  which  are  not  differences  in  reality.  I 
differ  from  Tyndall  a  good  deal  in  phrases,  but  when 
I  talk  with  him  I  do  not  find  that  we  differ  in  facts. 
That  phrase  polarity  in  its  present  undefined  state  is  a 
great  mystifier  (3307,  3308).1  Well  I  I  am  content,  and 
I  suppose  he  is,  to  place  our  respective  views  before 
the  world,  and  there  leave  them.  Although  often  con- 
tradicted, I  do  not  think  it  worth  while  reiterating  the 
expressions  once  set  forth  ;  or  altering  them,  until  I 
either  see  myself  in  the  wrong  or  misrepresented  ;  and 
even  in  the  latter  case,  I  let  many  a  misrepresentation 
pass.  Time  will  do  justice  in  all  these  cases. 

'  One  of  your  letters  asks  me,  "  What  do  you  conceive 
the  nature  of  the  lines  of  magnetic  force  to  be  ?  "  I 
think  it  wise  not  to  answer  that  question  by  an  assump- 
tion, and  therefore  have  no  further  account  to  give  of 
such  physical  lines  than  that  is  already  given  in  my 
various  papers.  See  that  referred  to  already  in  the 

1  •'  Philosophical  Magazine,'  February  1855. 


362  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1855.  "  Philosophical  Magazine  "  (3301-3305) ;  and  I  would 
^TeT  ask  you  to  read  also  3299,  the  last  paragraph  in  a 
paper  in  the  "Philosophical  Magazine,"  June  1852,  which 
expresses  truly  my  present  state  of  mind. 

4  But  a  physical  line  of  force  may  be  dealt  with  ex- 
perimentally, without  our  knowing  its  intimate  physical 
nature.  A  ray  of  light  is  a  physical  line  of  force ;  it 
can  be  proved  to  be  such  by  experiments  made  whilst 
it  was  thought  to  be  an  emission^  and  also  by  other 
experiments  made  since  it  has  been  thought  to  be  an 
undulation.  Its  physical  character  is  not  proved  either 
by  the  one  view  or  the  other  (one  of  which  must  be, 
and  both  may  be  wrong),  but  it  is  proved  by  the 
time  it  takes  in  propagation,  and  by  its  curvatures, 
inflexions,  and  physical  affections.  So  with  other 
physical  lines  of  force,  as  the  electric  current ;  we 
know  no  more  of  the  physical  nature  of  the  electric 
lines  of  force  than  we  do  of  the  magnetic  lines  of 
force  ;  we  fancy,  and  we  form  hypotheses,  but  unless 
these  hypotheses  are  considered  equally  likely  to  be 
false  as  true,  we  had  better  not  form  them  ;  and  there- 
fore I  go  with  Newton  when  he  speaks  of  the  physical 
lines  of  gravitating  force  (3305  note),  and  leave  that 
part  of  the  subject  for  the  consideration  of  my  readers. 

4  The  use  of  lines  of  magnetic  force  (without  the 
physical)  as  true  representations  of  nature,  is  to  me 
delightful,  and  as  yet  never  failing ;  and  so  long  as  I 
can  read  your  facts  and  those  of  Tyndall,  Weber,  and 
others  by  them,  and  find  they  all  come  into  one  harmo- 
nious whole,  without  any  contradiction,  I  am  content 
to  let  the  erroneous  expressions,  by  which  they  seem  to 
differ,  pass  unnoticed.  It  is  only  when  a  fact  appears 
that  they  cannot  represent  that  I  feel  urged  to  examina- 


LETTEES  DURING  THE   LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES. 


363 


tion,  though  that  has  not  yet  happened.  All  Tyndall's 
results  are  to  me  simple  consequences  of  the  tendency 
of  paramagnetic  bodies  to  go  from  weaker  to  stronger 
places  of  action,  and  of  diamagnetic  bodies  to  go  from 
stronger  to  weaker  places  of  action,  combined  with  the 
true  polarity  or  direction  of  the  lines  of  force  in  the 
places  of  action.  And  this  reminds  me  of  a  case  you 
put  in  one  of  your  letters,  which  to  me  presents  no 
difficulty : — "  a  piece  of  bismuth  on  which  the  pole  p 


1855.^ 

^ET.  64. 


m, 

a  [»] 

P 

P' 

n 

acts  suffers  an  action  on  the  part  of  the  pole  pr,  which  is 
the  same  as  if  the  pole  p'  did  not  act  or  was  a  pole  of 
the  contrary  name"  p,  being  an  S  pole,  repels  b,  and 
sends  it  from  a  stronger  into  a  weaker  part  of  the  field, 
i.e.  from  |_&J  to  \"B\  ;  then  p'  being  brought  up,  and  being 
also  an  S  pole,  B  is  no  longer  the  weaker  place  of  action 
but  b ;  and  hence  the  bismuth  goes  back.  And  that 
it  is  the  weaker  place  of  action  can  be  shown  by  a 
minute  magnetic  needle  or  a  crystal  of  bismuth,  and  in 
many  other  ways  (3341,  &c.,  especially  3350).  But 
suppose^'  is  selected,  an  N  pole,  then  the  lines  offeree 
between  p'  and  p  are  greatly  strengthened  in  power, 
and  the  small  needle,  or  crystal  bismuth,  shows  it  to  be 
so ;  but  still  B  is  no  longer  a  weaker  place  of  power 
than  6,  and  if  the  bismuth  can  only  move  along  the  line 
p  p'  it  must  move  from  B  to  b,  for  b  is  the  weakest 
place  of  action  in  that  line ;  but  this  is  a  place  of 
unstable  equilibrium,  and,  as  you  know  very  well,  if  it 


364  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1855.     can  move  in  the  line  m  n,  it  will  move  either  towards 
*  JET!  64.'  m   or  towards  w,  as  it  happens  to  be  on  one  or  the 
other  side  of  the  axial  line  of  the  magnetic  field. 

'  These  principles,  or  rather  laws,  explain  to  me  all 
those  movements  obtained  by  Tyndall  against  which 
your  note  is  directed,  and  therefore  I  do  not  see  in  his 
experiments  any  proofs  of  a  defined  or  inverse  polarity 
in  bismuth,  beyond  what  we  had  before.  He  has 
worked  out  well  the  antithetical  relations  of  paramag- 
netic and  diamagrietic  bodies  ;  and  distinguished 
mixed  actions,  which  by  some  have  been  much  con- 
fiised ;  but  the  true  nature  of  polarity,  and  whether  it 
is  the  same,  or  reversed  in  the  two  classes,  is  to  my 
mind  not  touched.  What  a  quantity  I  have  written  to 
you,  all  of  which  has  no  doubt  been  in  your  own  mind, 
and  tried  by  your  judgment.  Forgive  me  for  intruding 
it.  Ever  truly  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY. 

'  I  am  sorry  to  refer  you  to  the  "  Philosophical 
Magazine."  I  have  a  third  volume  of  my  "  Experimental 
Eesearches  "  on  my  desk  waiting  for  you ;  it  contains 
them  all.  I  have  not  yet  found  a  means  of  sending  it.' 

Another  affectionate  letter  to  Professor  Schonbein 
must  be  preserved  here. 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN-. 

'Royal  Institution  :  November  6,  1855. 

4  My  dear  Schonbein, — It  is  quite  time  I  should  write 
you  a  letter,  even  though  I  may  have  nothing  to  say, 
and  yet  I  surely  have  something  to  write,  though  it  may 


LETTERS  DURING  THE   LATTER  PERIOD  OF  HIS  RESEARCHES.  365 

not  be  philosophy,  for  I  trust  affection  will  last  out  1855. 
philosophy  ;  and  indeed  were  it  not  so  I  should  fear  MT.  64. 
that  I  was  indeed  becoming  a  worn  out,  worthless 
thing.  But  your  last  letter  abounded  in  all  matter,  both 
the  philosophical  and  also  the  domestic  and  kind,  and  I 
thank  you  heartily  for  it.  That  one  day  in  the  country  ! 
How  I  wish  I  had  been  with  you ;  but  I  could  not  now 
walk  in  Switzerland  as  I  have  done  in  former  years. 
All  things  suffer  a  change.  May  your  changes  be 
long  deferred,  for  you  must  be  very  happy  as  you  are  ; 
and  so  am  I,  but  my  happiness  is  of  a  quieter  kind  than 
it  used  to  be,  and  probably  more  becomes  a  man  sixty- 
four  years  of  age.  And  as  we,  i.e.  my  wife  and  I,  go 
on  our  way  together,  our  happiness  arises  from  the 
same  things,  and  we  enjoy  it  together  with  I  hope 
thankfulness  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift. 

'  Your  accounts  and  observations  are  most  interest- 
ing and  exciting,  but  I  dare  not  try  to  pursue  the  sub- 
ject, for  even  the  matter  I  have  in  magnetism  is  often 
too  much  for  me,  and  I  am  obliged  to  lay  it  by  for  a 
while,  so  that  I  am  forbidden  by  nature  to  take  up  any 
new  series  of  thought.  But  that  ozone,  that  oxygen, 
which  makes  up  more  than  half  the  weight  of  the 
world,  what  a  wonderful  thing  it  is,  and  yet  I  think  we 
are  only  at  the  beginning  of  the  knowledge  of  its 
wonders. 

'  My  very  kind  remembrances  to  M.  Wiedeman  also. 
It  is  delightful  to  see  thinking- workers  rise  up  in 
science. 

'  Believe  me  to  be,  my  dear  Schonbein,  your  faithful 
friend,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 


LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HAMPTON     COURT — USE     OF     THE     ELECTRIC     LIGHT     IN     LIGHT- 
HOUSES  DECLINE    AND    END   OF    HIS    LIFE. 

1856.  EVEN  in  the  last  chapter  of  Faraday's  life  each  one  of 
jET.64-66.  his  great  qualities  can  be  very  distinctly  traced. 

Few  of  those  who  saw  him  enjoying  the  kindness 
which  gave  him  his  house  at  Hampton  Court,  or 
delighting  in  the  beauty  of  the  sunsets  from  the  palace 
gardens,  or  rejoicing  in  the  idleness  of  the  summer  life 
in  the  country,  knew  that  during  a  great  part  of  this 
period  of  his  life  he  was  proving  by  experiment  whether 
his  magneto-electric  light  could  be  made  by  Professor 
Holmes  practically  useful  for  lighthouses. 

His  energy  and  truthfulness  made  him  take  the 
whole  responsibility  of  the  decision  upon  himself,  and 
without  doubt  his  frequent  journeys  to  the  South 
Foreland  and  Dungeness  lighthouses,  and  his  night 
excursions  in  the  Channel  during  the  winter,  when  he 
was  seventy  years  old,  were  remote  causes  of  his  last 
illness. 

Throughout  all  the  reports  which  he  made  regarding 
the  light,  there  is  scarcely  a  word  to  show  that  he  ever 
thought  of  it  as  his  light,  his  greatest  discovery ;  he 
even  heard  others  call  it  their  light  without  making  a 
remark  ;  but  he  gave  all  credit  and  honour  to  him  who 
applied  it,  and  only  said  of  himself,  that  he  must  take 


THE   DECLINE   AND    END   OP    HIS    LIFE.  367 

care  '  that  we  do  not  lead  our  authorities  into  error  by      1856. 
the  advice  given.'  jET.64-65. 

Another  remarkable  instance  of  his  humility  may  be 
seen  at  the  end  of  the  chapter,  in  his  burial.  He  knew 
full  well  that  he  had  earned  his  monument  in  the 
consecrated  palace  of  the  dead,  but  he  '  desired  a  grave- 
stone of  the  most  ordinary  kind  in  the  simplest  earthly 
place;'  the  unconsecrated  ground  he  thought  good 
enough  to  be  his  grave,  and  the  silent  service  at  his 
funeral  consisted  only  of  the  tears  and  thoughts  of  the 
few  relations  who  he  wished  to  have  there. 

Although  the  '  Researches  in  Electricity '  had  come  to 
an  end,  yet  the  work  in  the  laboratory  in  1856,  as 
seen  in  his  note-book,  was  more  continuous  than  ever 
before.  The  subject  was  the  experimental  relations 
of  gold  and  other  metals  to  light.  In  the  laboratory 
book,  nearly  three  hundred  folio  pages  are  filled  with 
the  account  of  his  experiments  which  were  continued 
throughout  the  whole  year.  His  paper  was  sent  to 
the  Eoyal  Society  in  November,  and  was  read  as  the 
Bakerian  lecture  in  February  1857. 

In  the  beginning,  he  says  he  looked  at  the  subject 
of  light  as  standing  between  the  coarser  mechanical 
actions  of  matter,  and  the  action  of  force  at  a  distance, 
and  '  admitting  for  the  time  the  existence  of  the  ether, 
I  have  often  struggled  to  perceive  how  far  that  medium 
might  account  for  or  mingle  in  with  such  actions 
generally,  and  to  what  extent  experimental  trials  might 
be  devised  which,  with  their  results  and  consequences, 
might  contradict,  confirm,  enlarge,  or  modify  the  idea 
we  form  of  it ;  always  with  the  hope  that  the  corrected 
or  instructed  idea  would  approach  more  and  more  to  the 
truth  of  nature,  and  in  the  fulness  of  time  coincide 
with  it.' 


368 


LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 


1856.^  *  At  one  time  I  had  hoped  that  I  had  altered  one 
^ET.64-65.  coloured  ray  into  another  by  means  of  gold,  which 
would  have  been  equivalent  to  a  change  in  the  number 
of  undulations  ;  and  though  I  have  not  confirmed 
that  result  as  yet,  still  those  I  have  obtained  seem  to 
me  to  present  a  useful  experimental  entrance  into 
certain  physical  investigations  respecting  the  nature 
and  action  of  a  ray  of  light.  I  do  not  pretend  that 
they  are  of  great  value  in  their  present  state,  but  they 
are  very  suggestive,  and  they  may  save  much  trouble 
to  any  experimentalist  inclined  to  pursue  and  extend 
this  line  of  investigation.' 

For  the  Institution  he  gave  two  Friday  discourses  ; 
the  first  on  certain  magnetic  actions  and  affections,  and 
the  second  on  M.  Petitj can's  process  for  silvering  glass 
and  some  observations  on  divided  gold.  He  again 
gave  the  Christmas  Lectures  on  attractive  forces. 

He  made  five  reports  to  the  Trinity  House,  and  lie 
entered  into  an  engagement  to  give  advice  regarding 
the  Board  of  Trade  lighthouses,  and  made  four  reports. 
Two  were  on  Cape  Eace  lighthouse,  and  one  on 
Dr.  Normandy's  distilled  water  apparatus. 

He  was  made  Corresponding  Member  of  the  Nether- 
land  Society  of  Sciences,  Batavia  ;  and  Member  of  the 
Imperial  Eoyal  Institute  of  Padua. 

The  letters  of  this  year  that  remain  show  the  kindness 
of  his  nature,  and  the  greatness  of  his  reputation.  He 
spoke  more  strongly  than  ever  before  of  his  failing 
memory  to  his  friends  Professors  de  la  Eive  and 
Schonbein,  and  he  was  much  pleased  with  the  following 
letters  which  he  received  when  his  Juvenile  Lectures 
were  finished. 


LETTERS    DURING    THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS    DECLINE.  369 


H.R.H.    THE   PRINCE   OF   WALES   TO   FARADAY. 

'  Windsor  Castle  :  January  16,  1856. 

'Dear  Sir, — I  am  anxious  to  thank  you  for  the 
advantage  I  have  derived  from  attending  your  most 
interesting  lectures.  Their  subject,  I  know  very  well, 
is  of  great  importance,  and  I  hope  to  follow  the  advice 
you  gave  us  of  pursuing  it  beyond  the  lecture-room ; 
and  I  can  assure  you  that  I  shall  always  cherish  with 
great  pleasure  the  recollection  of  having  been  assisted 
in  my  early  studies  in  chemistry  by  so  distinguished  a 
man. 

'  Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  yours  truly, 

'  ALBERT  EDWARD.' 

1I.R.1I.  THE  PRINCE  ALFRED  TO  FARADAY. 

'  Windsor  Castle  :  January  16,  1856. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  write  to  thank  you  very  much  for  the 
pleasure  you  have  given  me  by  your  lectures,  and  I 
cannot  help  hoping  they  will  not  be  the  last  I  shall  hear 
from  you.  Their  subject  was  very  interesting,  and 
your  clear  explanations  made  it  doubly  so. 

'  Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  yours  truly, 

'ALFRED.' 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  SCIIONBEIN. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  March  21,  1856. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — The  heartiest  and  the  kindest 
wishes  to  you  and  the  best  thanks  for  your  letter.  I 
have  it  not  here  (Norwood,  for  I  am  resting  a  head 
like  a  sieve),  but  I  know  it  was  very  pleasant,  and  I 
think  contained  some  family  details  which  made  me 

VOL.  II.  B  B 


370  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1856.     long  to  be  with  you ;  but  the  fact  is,  that  when  I  am 
IBS.  64.     with  a  friend,  I  soon  need  to  get  away  again,  because 
of  the   labour   of  conversation,   and   its   strain   upon 
recollection. 

'  I  do  not  recollect  any  news,  and  shall  be  glad  to 
lay  my  head  down  again ;  so  with  kindest  remem- 
brances. .  .  . 

'  I  remain  as  ever,  your  affectionate  friend, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO   PROF.   A.    DE   LA   RIVE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  March  21, 1866. 

'My  dear  de  la  Eive, — Though  unable  to  write 
much,  I  cannot  longer  refrain  from  acknowledging 
your  kindness  in  sending  me  such  a  remembrance  of 
you  as  the  vol.  ii.,  and  in  giving  utterance  to  the  great 
delight  with  which  I  have  read  it.  I  rejoice  to  think 
that  such  a  work  should  be  reprinted  in  the  English 
language,  for  now,  when  asked  for  a  good  book  on 
electricity,  I  know  what  to  say. 

4 1  will  not  say  that  I  envy  you  for  your  wonderful 
stores  of  knowledge  regarding  all  that  concerns  our 
beloved  science,  but  I  cannot  help  contrasting  your 
power  with  mine,  and  wishing  for  a  little  of  the  ability 
by  which  a  mind  such  as  yours  calls  up  to  present 
remembrance  what  it  had  found  worthy  to  lay  up  in  its 
treasury. 

c  But  we  both  have  reasons  of  a  higher  nature  than 
any  that  science  can  afford,  to  be  thankful  for  that  we 
have  received,  and  not  to  forget  the  many  benefits 
bestowed  upon  us,  and  I  hope  that  I  am  not  envious  of 
you  or  of  any  man,  but  would  rather  rejoice  in  your 
exaltation. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE  PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  371 

'With  the  kindest  remembrance  of  Madame  de  la     1856. 
Rive  and  of  yourself,  ^ET.  64. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  friend,  most  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

M.  PLUCKER  TO  FARADAY. 

« Bonn  :  March  24,  1856. 

'  Dear  Sir, — Looking  at  the  date  of  your  last  kind 
letter,  I  am  very  much  surprised  my  silence  has  been 
so  long  a  one.  Being  another  time,  by  election,  at  the 
head  of  the  University,  I  am  for  a  year  rather  entirely 
distracted  from  scientific  working ;  therefore,  that  I  may 
not  fall  into  my  former  indolence,  I  write  to  you  the 
very  first  day  of  "  vacancies.'" 


And  then  he  continues  : — 

'  Dear  Sir, — The  extreme  kindness  with  which  you 
received  my  very  first  experimental  researches  is  that 
moment  in  my  scientific  life  at  which  I  look  back  with 
the  greatest  satisfaction.  When  recently  I  had  the 
honour  to  be  elected  a  Foreign  Member  of  the  Royal 
Society,  the  origin  of  it  is  to  be  found  only  in  that 
kindness. 

*  With  all  my  heart,  and  for  ever,  yours, 

<  PLUCKER.' 

FARADAY  TO  PROFESSOR  SCHONBEIN. 

'Koyal  Institution:  April  11, 1856. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — 

'  Most  hearty  thanks  for  your  very  pleasant,  interest- 
ing picture  of  juvenile  life.  I  could  have  enjoyed  it  very 

B  B2 


372  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

185G.     much  indeed.     I  suppose  you  were  about  the  biggest 
JET.  65,    child  there. 

'  I   trust  you  will  soon   have   the   volume — which 
receive  favourably  for  my  sake. 

'  Ever  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  October  14,  1856. 

'My  dear  Friend, — Hearty,  and  healthy,  and  occupied, 
and  happy  as  you  are,  let  me  congratulate  you,  for 
every  letter  of  yours  brings  me  evidence  of  the  existence 
of  a  healthy  mind  in  a  sound  body.  How  you  have 
been  running  about !  and  you  go  home  as  if  you  were 
refreshed  rather  than  tired  by  it.  I  do  not  feel  so  any 
longer ;  even  if  I  go  away  for  a  little  general  health, 
I  am  glad  to  return  home  again  for  rest  in  the  company 
of  my  dear  wife  and  niece ;  but,  as  the  Wise  man  hath 
said,  there  is  a  time  for  all  things,  and  my  time  is  to  be 
quiet  and  look  on,  which  I  am  able  to  do  with  great 
content  and  satisfaction. 

4  What  you  tell  me  of  your  paper  makes  me  long  to 
hear  the  whole  of  it,  though  the  very  pleasure  of 
getting  knowledge  is  now  mingled  with  some  thoughts 
of  regret  at  the  consciousness  that  I  may  quickly 
lose  it  again.  Well,  a  time  for  all  things.  I  have  been 
occupying  myself  with  gold  this  summer ;  I  did  not 
feel  head-strong  enough  for  stronger  things.  The 
work  has  been  of  the  mountain  and  mouse  fashion,  and 
if  I  ever  publish  it,  and  it  comes  to  your  sight,  I  dare 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OP   HIS   DECLINE.  373 

say  you  will  think  so.     The  transparency  of  gold,  its      1856. 
division,  its  action  on  light,  &c.  &c.  &c.  JEx.64-65. 

1  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

L.    AGASSIZ  TO   FARADAY. 

'  Cambridge,  U.  S. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — It  is  so  long  since  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  direct  intercourse  with  you  that  I  might 
apprehend  you  would  have  forgotten  me,  were  there  not 
in  my  past  recollections  such  circumstances  as  insure  for 
me  a  place  in  your  memory,  I  hope.  You  have  surely 
not  cast  from  your  mind  the  enthusiastic  fish-man  whom 
you  met  at  Dr.  Mantell's  in  Brighton  seventeen  years 
ago,  and  who  at  that  time  was  so  happy  to  pay  homage 
to  the  great  physicist  in  England.  You  were  then 
already  old  in  the  walks  of  science,  and,  for  my  part,  I 
shall  never  forget  the  impression  which  this  contrast 
between  celebrity  and  age  made  upon  my  mind,  and  I 
can  hardly  believe  it  has  escaped  your  attention  then. 
Though  the  nature  of  my  studies  has  not  drawn  me 
nearer  to  you  since,  I  may  hope  that  scientific  men  in 
all  departments  feel  sympathy  for  one  another ;  and  it 
is  on  that  ground  I  take  the  liberty  to  introduce  to  you 
my  friend,  one  of  your  admirers,  who  is  now  visiting 
again  the  continent  of  Europe,  where  he  has  studied 
formerly,  and  who  wants  to  pay  you  his  respects  whilst 
in  England. 

c  Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  with  high  respect,  sincerely 
yours, 

CL.  AGASSIZ.' 


374  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1857. 
^Er.65-66.  W.    THOMSON    TO    FARADAY. 

(2  College,  Glasgow. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — Although  I  hope  soon  to  see  you  in 
London,  I  cannot  delay  till  then  thanking  you  for  your 
letter  and  for  the  very  kind  expressions  it  contains. 
Such  expressions  from  you  would  be  more  than  a 
sufficient  reward  for  anything  I  could  ever  contemplate 
doing  in  science.  I  feel  strongly  how  little  I  have  done 
to  deserve  them,  but  they  will  encourage  me  with  a 
stronger  motive  than  I  have  ever  had  before  to  go  on 
endeavouring  to  see  in  the  direction  you  have  pointed, 
which  I  long  ago  learned  to  believe  is  the  direction  in 
which  we  must  look  for  a  deeper  insight  into  nature. 

'  I  cannot  explain  to  you  how  much  I  fall  short  of 
deserving  what  you  say,  but  must  simply  thank  you 
most  sincerely  for  your  kindness  in  writing  as  you 
have  done. 

*  Believe  me,  ever  yours  truly, 

*  WILLIAM  THOMSON.' 

In  1857  there  was  but  little  work  in  the  laboratory, 
except  in  August  and  September.  The  subject  of  in- 
vestigation was  on  time  in  magnetism.  In  one  para- 
graph, he  writes :  '  Time.  It  would  appear  very  hope- 
less to  find  the  time  in  magnetic  action,  if  it  at  all 
approached  to  the  time  of  light,  which  is  about  190,000 
miles  in  a  second,  or  that  of  electricity  in  copper  wire, 
which  approximates  to  the  former.  But  these  powers, 
which  act  on  interposed  media,  are  known  to  vary,  and 
sometimes  wonderfully.  Thus  the  time  of  action  at  a 
distance  by  conduction  is  wonderfully  different  for 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OP   HIS   DECLINE.  375 

electricity  in  copper,  water,  and  wax.     Nor  is  it  likely      1857. 
that  the  paramagnetic  body  oxygen  can  exist  in  the  ir.es-eV. 
air  and  not  retard  the  transmission  of  the  magnetism. 
At  least,  such  is  my  hope. 

'As  to  the  detection,  a  difference  of  ^th  of  an  inch  can 
be  seen  with  a  radius  of  ten  feet,  and  it  is  the  -^-^o tn 
part.  Suppose  we  say  that  the  light  lines  will  be  visible 
with  a  revolution  of  the  contact  mirror  thrice  in  a 
second,  that  is  equivalent  to  a  revolution  of  the  light  ray 
six  times  in  a  second,  so  that  22620x6  =  135720,  so 
that  the  space  moved  through  in  the  i-g-sV^th  °f  a 
second  will  probably  be  easily  distinguished.  If  that 
be  the  time  for  conduction  through  100  feet  of  distance, 
it  would  show  a  transmission  of  magnetic  force  with 
a  velocity  of  135720x100,  or  13,572,000  feet  in  a 
second,  or  2574  miles,  or  about  y^th  part  of  that  of  light. 
Probably,  the  radius  may  be  doubled  or  tripled — 
perhaps  the  rotation  be  much  increased ;  but  then  the 
difficulty  will  be  to  catch  the  moment  of  cessation,  for 
the  impression  of  the  preceding  lines  of  light  will 
remain  on  the  eye  if  the  revolutions  are  more  than  ten 
in  a  second.' 

To  the  Eev.  John  Barlow  he  writes : — 

'  Highgate  :  August  19, 1857. 

'  I  am  in  town,  and  at  work  more  or  less  every  day. 
My  memory  wearies  me  greatly  in  working ;  for  I  can- 
not remember  from  day  to  day  the  conclusions  I  come 
to,  and  all  has  to  be  thought  out  many  times  over.  To 
write  it  down  gives  no  assistance,  for  what  is  written 
down  is  itself  forgotten.  It  is  only  by  very  slow 
decrees  that  this  state  of  mental  muddiness  can  be 

O 

wrought  either  through  or  under ;  nevertheless,  I  know 


376  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  that  to  work  somewhat  is  far  better  than  to  stand  still, 
"  JET!  66.'  even  if  nothing  comes  of  it.  It  is  better  for  the  mind 
itself — not  being  quite  sure  whether  I  shall  ever  end 
the  research,  and  yet  being  sure,  that  if  in  my  former 
state  of  memory,  I  could  work  it  out  in  a  week  or  two 
to  a  successful  and  affirmative  result. 

4  Do  not  be  amazed  by  what  I  am  telling  you  :  it  is 
simply  the  thing  I  remember  to  tell  you.  If  other 
things  occurred  to  my  mind,  I  would  tell  you  of  them. 
But  one  thing  which  often  withholds  me,  is,  that  if  I 
begin  a  thing,  I  find  I  do  not  report  it  correctly,  and  so 
naturally  withdraw  from  attempting  it.  One  result  of 
short  memory  is  coming  curiously  into  play  with  me. 
I  forget  how  to  spell.  I  dare  say  if  I  were  to  read  this 
letter  again,  I  should  find  four  or  five  words  of  which  I 
am  doubtful,  "withholds,  wearies,  successful,"  &c.;  but 
I  cannot  stop  for  them,  or  look  to  a  dictionary  (for  I 
had  better  cease  to  write  altogether),  but  I  just  send 
them,  with  all  their  imperfections,  knowing  that  you 
will  receive  them  kindly. 

1  Ever,  dear  Barlow,  truly  yours, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

In  a  note  to  Professor  Schonbein  he  alludes  to  his 
work  at  this  time. 

FARADAY   TO   SCHONBEIN. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  November  24,  1857. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — I  expected  you  would  have 
seen  much  of  your  last  letter  in  the  "Philosophical 
Magazine  "  before  now.  .  .  . 

4  What  a  wonderful  thing  oxygen  is,  and  so  I  suppose 
would  every  other  element  appear  if  our  knowledge 
were  more  perfect. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  377 

'  I  ventured  to  send  you  a  paper  the  other  day  by  the  1857. 
post  .  .  .  about  gold,  and  the  relation  of  it  and  other  jEx.es-ee. 
metals  to  light.  Many  facts  came  out  during  the 
inquiry  which  surprised  me  greatly;  especially  the 
effects  of  pressure ;  and  also  those  relating  to  polarized 
light.  Lately  I  have  been  working  at  the  relation  of 
time  to  actions  at  a  distance,  as  those  actions  which 
class  as  magnetic  ;  but  the  subject  is  very  difficult :  the 
requisite  apparatus  requires  to  be  frequently  remade, 
each  time  being  more  perfected  ;  and  whether  I  shall 
catch  the  gW^^o^  Part  °f  a  second  (if  required) 
seems  very  doubtful.  In  the  meantime,  I  am  for  the 
present  tired,  and  must  lay  the  research  on  the  shelf. 

'I  have  undertaken  to  give  half  a  dozen  juvenile 
lectures  after  Christmas ;  whether  they  will  come  off 
(as  we  say)  or  not,  is  doubtful.  Patience. 

4 1  do  not  think  we  have  much  scientific  news ;  at 
least,  I  do  not  hear  of  much ;  but  then  I  do  not  go 
within  reach  of  the  waves  of  sound,  and  so  must 
consent  to  be  ignorant.  Indeed,  too  much  would  drive 
me  crazy  in  the  attempt  to  hold  it. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY   TO    C.    MATTEUCCl. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  March  20,  1857. 

'  I  snatch  a  few  weary  moments  to  have  a  word  with 
you  in  the  way  of  thanks  for  your  letters  of  news. 

'  I  won't  pretend  to  send  you  any  news,  for,  when  I 
try  to  remember  it,  ah1  is  slow  to  me,  and  you  are  so 


378  LIFE    OP   FARADAY. 

1857.     active  and  spiritual  that  it  seems  to  me  as  if  you  were 
^Ex.65-66.  out  of  my  sight. 

'Perhaps  you  may  be  inclined  to  say  as  regards 
gravity,  and  that  I  am  out  of  your  sight ;  nevertheless,  I 
have  a  strong  trust  and  conviction, 

'  I  am  ever  yours, 

'  M.  FAEADAY.' 

On  February  27  he  gave  a  lecture  for  the  Eoyal 
Institution  on  the  conservation  of  force.  It  begins 
thus  : — '  Various  circumstances  induce  me  at  the  pre- 
sent moment  to  put  forth  a  consideration  regarding  the 
conservation  of  force.  .  .  .  There  is  no  question  which 
lies  closer  to  the  root  of  all  physical  knowledge  than 
that  which  inquires  whether  force  can  be  destroyed  or 
not.  .  .  .  Agreeing  with  those  who  admit  the  conser- 
vation of  force  to  be  a  principle  in  physics  as  large  and 
sure  as  that  of  the  indestructibility  of  matter,  or  the 
invariability  of  gravity,  I  think  that  no  particular  idea 
of  force  has  a  right  to  unlimited  and  unqualified  ac- 
ceptance that  does  not  include  assent  to  it.  ...  Sup- 
posing the  truth  of  the  principle  is  assented  to,  I  come 
to  its  uses.  No  hypothesis  should  be  admitted  nor 
any  assertion  of  a  fact  credited  that  denies  the  prin- 
ciple. .  .  .  The  received  idea  of  gravity  appears  to  me 
to  ignore  entirely  the  principle  of  the  conservation  of 
force ;  and  by  the  terms  of  its  definition,  if  taken 
in  an  absolute  sense,  "  varying  inversely  as  the  square 
of  the  distance,"  to  be  in  direct  opposition  to  it.' 

Two  remarkable  letters  in  connection  with  this  lec- 
ture have  been  preserved  ;  the  one  was  written  to  the 
Eev.  Edward  Jones,  and  the  other  to  Mr.  Clerk  Max- 
well. In  this  last  letter  he  says  :  '  I  perceive  that  I  do 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  379 

not  use  the  word  "force"  as  you  define  it,  "the  ten-      1857. 
dency  of  a  body  to  pass  from  one  place  to  another."  isT.e'a-ee'. 
What  I  mean  by  the  word  is  the  source  or  sources  of 
all  possible  actions  of  the  particles  or  materials  of  the 
universe.'     His  clear  idea  was  '  that  it  was  impossible 
to  create  force.     We  may  employ  it,  we  may  invoke  it 
in  one  form  by  its  consumption  in  another ;  we  may 
hide  it  for  a  period,  but  we  can  neither  create  nor 
destroy  it.   We  may  cast  it  away,  but  where  we  dismiss 
it  there  it  will  do  its  work.' 

In  1831,  his  great  discovery  of  magneto-electricity 
came  from  his  holding  *  an  opinion  almost  amounting 
to  conviction,'  that  as  electricity  could  produce  mag- 
netism, therefore  magnetism  must  produce  electricity. 
When  working  on  the  electricity  of  the  voltaic  pile  in 
1834,  he  held  '  that  chemical  and  electrical  forces  were 
identical.'  He  wrote  in  his  note-book,  '  electricity  is 
chemical  affinity :  chemical  affinity  is  electricity.'  In 
his  lecture  at  the  Eoyal  Institution,  June  21,  1834,  on 
the  relations  of  chemical  affinity,  electricity,  heat, 
magnetism,  and  other  powers  of  matter,  he  showed  by 
experiment  '  that  all  are  connected.'  '  That  the  pro- 
duction of  any  one  from  another,  or  the  conversion  of 
one  into  another,  may  be  observed.1  '  We  cannot  say 
that  any  one  is  the  cause  of  the  others,  but  only  that 
all  are  connected  and  due  to  a  common  cause.' 

In  1845,  in  his  paper  on  the  magnetism  of  light,  he 
says  :  '  I  have  long  held  an  opinion  almost  amounting 
to  conviction,  in  common  I  believe  with  many  other 
lovers  of  natural  knowledge,  that  the  various  forms 
under  which  the  forces  of  matter  are  made  manifest 
have  one  common  origin  ;  or,  in  other  words,  are  so 
directly  related  and  mutually  dependent,  that  they  are 


80  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  convertible,  as  it  were,  one  into  another,  and  possess 
Ej.6^-66.  equivalents  of  power  in  their  action.' 

In  February  1849  he  says  :  '  The  exertions  in  phy- 
sical science  of  late  years  have  been  directed  to  ascer- 
tain not  merely  the  natural  powers,  but  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  linked  together,  the  universality  of  each 
in  its  action,  and  their  probable  unity  in  one'  '  I  cannot 
doubt  that  a  glorious  discovery  in  natural  knowledge, 
and  of  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God  in  creation,  is 
awaiting  our  age,  and  that  we  may  not  only  hope  to 
see  it,  but  even  be  honoured  to  help  in  obtaining  the 
victory  over  present  ignorance  and  future  knowledge.' 

And  in  his  last  paper  in  1860  he  wrote  :  '  Under 
the  full  conviction  that  the  force  of  gravity  is  re- 
lated to  the  other  forms  of  natural  power,  and  is 
a  fit  subject  for  experiment,  I  endeavoured,  on  a 
former  occasion — 1851 — to  discover  its  relation  with 
electricity,  but  unsuccessfully.  Under  the  same  deep 
conviction,  I  have  recently  striven  to  procure  evidence 
of  its  connection  with  either  electricity  or  heat.  By  a 
relation  of  forces  I  do  not  mean  the  production  of 
effects  associated  usually  with  one  form  of  power  by 
the  exercise  of  another,  unless  the  results  are  direct. 
There  is  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  either  electrical  or 
heating  phenomena  indirectly  from  the  force  of  gravity.' 

Throughout  his  life,  Faraday  worked  for  this  grand 
generalisation.  But  his  experiments  would  not  let  him 
make  it.  The  equivalent  transformation  of  different 
motions  was  proved  by  experiment  long  after  he  had 
pointed  out '  the  relationship  of  the  forces.'  The  con- 
stancy of  the  sum  of  potential  and  of  actual  energies  is 
now  considered  as  certain,  and  the  permanency  of  the 
causes  of  energy  is  assumed  to  be  true.  But  the  tinitv 


LETTERS    DURIXG    THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS   DECLINE.  381 

of  these  causes,  like  the  existence  of  a  single  parent      1857. 
elementary  matter,  remains  a  problem  which  experi-    -ZEr.  65. 
ment  will  perhaps  never  be  able  to  establish,  although 
the  genius  of  Faraday  led  him  to  consider  that  it  was 
'  naturally  capable  of  attack.' 

To  the  Eev.  Edward  Jones,  of  West  Peckham,  Maid- 
stone,  he  says  : — 

1  Koyal  Institution  :  June  9,  1867. 

c  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  received  your  very  kind  letter 
and  paper,  and  am  delighted  at  such  a  result  of  my 
evening.  If  nothing  else  had  come  of  it  but  that,  it 
would  have  been  a  sufficient  reward  ;  but  much  else 
has  come,  and  I  expect  much  more. 

'  I  do  not  think  you  can  find  in  my  papers  any  word 
or  thought  that  contradicts  the  law  of  gravitating 
action.  My  observations  are  all  directed  to  the  defini- 
tion or  description  of  the  force  of  gravitation  with  the 
view  of  clearing  up  the  received  idea  of  the  force,  so 
that  if  inaccurate  or  insufficient  it  may  not  be  left  as 
an  obstacle  in  the  present  progressive  state  of  science. 

'  If  I  am  wrong  in  believing  that  according  to  the 
present  view  the  mutual  gravitating  force  of  two  par- 
ticles, A  and  B,  remains  unchanged,  whatever  other 
particles  come  to  bear  upon  A  and  B,  then  the  sooner 
I  am  corrected  publicly  the  better. 

'  If  your  view  (whether  old  or  new),  that  the  power 
of  A  remains  unchanged  in  amount,  but  is  subdivided 
upon  every  particle  which  acts  upon  it,  is  the  true  or 
the  accepted  one,  then  I  shall  long  to  see  it  published 
and  acknowledged,  for  I  do  not  find  it  received  at 
present.  I  have  proved  to  my  own  satisfaction  that 


382  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  such  is  the  case  with  the  dual  powers  electricity  *  and 
JET.  65.  magnetism,2  and  it  is  the  denial  of  it  as  regards  gravity 
which  makes  up  my  chief  difficulty  in  accepting  the 
established  view  of  that  power.  Your  statement  that 
A  may  attract  or  act  on  B  C  with  a  force  of  one,  whilst 
B  C  act  on  A  with  a  force  of  two,  seems  to  me  incon- 
sistent with  the  law  that  action  and  reaction  are  equal ; 
but  I  suppose  I  am  under  some  misconception  of  your 
meaning. 

4  The  cases  of  action  at  a  distance  are  becoming,  in 
a  physical  point  of  view,  daily  more  and  more  impor- , 
tant.     Sound,  light,  electricity,  magnetism,  gravitation, 
present  them  as  a  series. 

'  The  nature  of  sound  and  its  dependence  on  a 
medium  we  think  we  understand  pretty  well.  The 
nature  of  light  as  dependent  on  a  medium  is  now  very 
largely  accepted.  The  presence  of  a  medium  in  the 
phenomena  of  electricity  and  magnetism  becomes  more 
and  more  probable  daily.  We  employ  ourselves,  and 
I  think  rightly,  in  endeavouring  to  elucidate  the  phy- 
sical exercise  of  these  forces,  or  their  sets  of  antecedents 
and  consequents,  and  surely  no  one  can  find  fault  with 
the  labours  which  eminent  men  have  entered  upon  in 
respect  of  light,  or  into  which  they  may  enter  as 
regards  electricity  and  magnetism.  Then  what  is 
there  about  gravitation  that  should  exclude  it  from 
consideration  also  ?  Newton  did  not  shut  out  the 
physical  view,  but  had  evidently  thought  deeply  of 
it ;  and  if  he  thought  of  it,  why  should  not  we,  in 
these  advanced  days,  do  so  too  ?  Yet  how  can  we  do 

1  Experimental  Researches,  8vo.  vol.  i.  par.  1177,  1215,  1681,  &c. 
*  Experimental  Researches,   xxviii.  vol.   iii.  p.  328,  &c.,  par.   3109, 
3121,  3225,  and  also  par.  3324  of  the  same  vol.  iii.  p.  544. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OP   HIS   DECLINE.  383 

so  if  the  present  definition  of  the  force,  as  I  under- 
stand it,  is  allowed  to  remain  undisturbed  ;  or  how  are 
its  inconsistencies  or  deficiencies  as  a  description  of  the 
force  to  be  made  manifest,  except  by  such  questions 
and  observations  as  those  made  by  me,  and  referred  to 
in  the  last  pages  of  your  paper  ?  I  believe  we  ought 
to  search  out  any  deficiency  or  inconsistency  in  the 
sense  conveyed  by  the  received  form  of  words,  that 
we  may  increase  our  real  knowledge,  striking  out  or 
limiting  what  is  vague.  I  believe  that  men  of  science 
will  be  glad  to  do  so,  and  will  even,  as  regards  gravity, 
amend  its  description,  if  they  see  it  is  wrong.  You 
have,  I  think,  done  so  to  a  large  extent  in  your  manu- 
script, and  I  trust  (and  know)  that  others  have  done 
so  also.  That  I  may  be  largely  wrong  I  am  free  to 
admit — who  can  be  right  altogether  in  physical  science, 
which  is  essentially  progressive  and  corrective.  Still 
if  in  our  advance  we  find  that  a  view  hitherto  accepted 
is  not  sufficient  for  the  corning  development,  we  ought 
I  think  (even  though  we  risk  something  on  our  own 
part),  to  run  before  and  rise  up  difficulties,  that  we 
may  learn  how  to  solve  them  truly.  To  leave  them 
untouched,  hanging  as  dead  weights  upon  our  thoughts, 
or  to  respect  or  preserve  their  existence  whilst  they 
interfere  with  the  truth  of  physical  action,  is  to  rest 
content  with  darkness  and  to  worship  an  idol. 

'  I  take  the  liberty  of  sending  by  this  post  copies  of 
two  papers.  The  one  on  conservation  of  force  is,  I 
suppose,  that  which  you  have  read.  I  have  made  re- 
marks in  the  margin  which  I  think  will  satisfy  you 
that  I  do  not  want  to  raise  objections,  except  where  the 
definition  of  gravity  originates  them  of  itself.  The 
other  is  on  the  same  subject  two  years  anterior.  If 


384  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  you  would  cause  your  view  of  gravity  as  a  force  un- 
MT  65.  changing  in  amount  in  A,  but  disposable  in  part  to- 
wards one  or  many  other  particles,  to  be  acknowledged 
by  scientific  men ;  you  would  do  a  great  service  to 
science.  If  you  would  even  get  them  to  say  yes  or  no 
to  your  conclusions,  it  would  help  to  clear  the  future 
progress.  I  believe  some  hesitate  because  they  do  not 
like  to  have  their  thoughts  disturbed.  When  Davy  dis- 
covered potassium  it  annoyed  persons  who  had  just 
made  their  view  of  chemical  science  perfect ;  and  when 
I  discovered  the  magneto-electric  spark,  distaste  of  a 
like  kind  was  felt  towards  it,  even  in  high  places.  Still 
science  must  proceed  ;  and  with  respect  to  my  part  in 
the  matter  of  gravitation,  I  am  content  to  leave  it  to 
the  future.  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  there  is  ground 
for  my  observations,  for  if  there  had  been  an  evident 
answer  it  must  have  appeared  before  now.  That  the 
answer,  when  it  comes,  may  be  different  to  what  I 
expect,  I  think  is  very  probable,  but  I  think  also  it 
will  be  as  different  from  the  present  received  view. 
Then  a  good  end  will  be  obtained,  and  indeed  your 
observations  and  views  appear  to  me  to  be  much  of 
that  kind. 

'  If  it  should  be  said  that  the  physical  nature  of 
gravitation  has  not  yet  been  considered,  but  only  the 
law  of  its  action,  and,  therefore,  that  no  definition  of 
gravity  as  a  power  has  hitherto  been  necessary  ;  that 
may  be  so  with  some,  but  then  it  must  be  high  time  to 
proceed  a  little  further  if  we  can,  and  that  is  just  one 
reason  for  bringing  the  principle  of  the  conservation  of 
force  to  bear  upon  the  subject.  It  cannot,  I  think,  for 
a  moment  be  supposed  that  we  are  to  go  no  further  in 
the  investigation.  Where  would  our  knowledge  of 


LETTERS   DURING   THE    PERIOD    OF   HIS   DECLINE.  385 

light,  or  magnetism,  or  the  voltaic  current  have  been      1857. 
under  such  a  restraint  of  the  mind  ?  ^ET.  66. 

'Again  thanking  you  most  truly  for  the  attention 
you  have  given  to  me  and  the  subject,  I  beg  you  to 
believe  that 

'  I  am,  very  gratefully,  your  faithful  servant, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY    TO   MR.    CLERK   MAXWELL. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  November  13,  1857. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — If  on  a  former  occasion  I  seemed  to 
ask  you  what  you  thought  of  my  paper,  it  was  very 
wrong,  for  I  do  not  think  anyone  should  be  called  upon 
for  the  expression  of  their  thoughts  before  they  are 
prepared  and  wish  to  give  them.  I  have  often  enough 
to  decline  giving  an  opinion,  because  my  mind  is  not 
ready  to  come  to  a  conclusion,  or  does  not  wish  to  be 
committed  to  a  view  that  may  by  further  consideration 
be  changed.  But  having  received  your  last  letter,  I  am 
exceedingly  grateful  to  you  for  it ;  and  rejoice  that  my 
forgetfulness  of  having  sent  the  former  paper  on  con- 
servation has  brought  about  such  a  result.  Your  letter 
is  to  me  the  first  intercommunication  on  the  subject 
with  one  of  your  mode  and  habit  of  thinking.  It  will 
do  me  much  good,  and  I  shall  read  and  meditate  on  it 
again  and  again. 

*  I  dare  say  I  have  myself  greatly  to  blame  for  the 
vague  use  of  expressive  words.  I  perceive  that  I  do 
not  use  the  word  "  force  "  as  you  define  it,  "  the  ten- 
dency of  a  body  to  pass  from  one  place  to  another." 
What  I  mean  by  the  word  is  the  source  or  sources  of 

VOL.  II.  C  C 


386  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  all  possible  actions  of  the  particles  or  materials  of  the 
MI.  ee.  universe,  these  being  often  called  the  powers  of  nature 
when  spoken  of  in  respect  of  the  different  manners 
in  which  their  effects  are  shown. 

'  In  a  paper  which  I  have  received  at  this  moment 
from  the  "  Phil.  Mag.,"  by  Dr.  Woods,  they  are  called 
the  forces,  "  such  as  electricity,  heat,  &c."  In  this  way 
I  have  used  the  word  "  force  "  in  the  description  of 
gravity  which  I  have  given  as  that  expressing  the 
received  idea  of  its  nature  and  source,  and  such  of  my 
remarks  as  express  an  opinion,  or  are  critical,  apply 
only  to  that  sense  of  it.  You  may  remember  I 
speak  to  labourers  like  myself;  experimentalists  on 
force  generally  who  receive  that  description  of  gravity 
as  a  physical  truth,  and  believe  that  it  expresses  all  and 
no  more  than  all  that  concerns  the  nature  and  locality 
of  the  power, — to  these  it  limits  the  formation  of  their 
ideas  and  the  direction  of  their  exertions,  and  to  them 
I  have  endeavoured  to  speak,  showing  how  such  a 
thought,  if  accepted,  pledged  them  to  a  very  limited 
and  probably  erroneous  view  of  the  cause  of  the  force, 
and  to  ask  them  to  consider  whether  they  should 
not  look  (for  a  time,  at  least),  to  a  source  in  part 
external  to  the  particles.  I  send  you  two  or  three 
old  printed  papers  with  lines  marked  relating  to  this 
point. 

'  To  those  who  disown  the  definition  or  description 
as  imperfect,  I  have  nothing  to  urge,  as  there  is  then 
probably  no  real  difference  between  us. 

'  I  hang  on  to  your  words,  because  they  are  to  me 
weighty ;  and  where  you  say,  "  I,  for  my  part,  cannot 
realise  your  dissatisfaction  with  the  law  of  gravitation, 
provided  you  conceive  it  according  to  your  own 


LETTERS   DURING    THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  387 

principles,"  they  give  me  great  comfort.  I  have  1857. 
nothing  to  say  against  the  law  of  the  action  of  gravity.  ^ET.  ee. 
It  is  against  the  law  which  measures  its  total  strength 
as  an  inherent  force  that  I  venture  to  oppose  my 
opinion ;  and  I  must  have  expressed  myself  badly 
(though  I  do  not  find  the  weak  point),  or  I  should  not 
have  conveyed  any  other  impression.  All  I  wanted  to 
do  was  to  move  men  (not  No.  1,  but  No.  2),  from  the 
unreserved  acceptance  of  a  principle  of  physical  action 
which  might  be  opposed  to  natural  truth.  The  idea 
that  we  may  possibly  have  to  connect  repulsion  with 
the  lines  of  gravitation-force  (which  is  going  far  beyond 
anything  my  mind  would  venture  on  at  present,  except 
in  private  cogitation),  shows  how  far  we  may  have  to 
depart  from  the  view  I  oppose. 

'  There  is  one  thing  I  would  be  glad  to  ask  you. 
When  a  mathematician  engaged  in  investigating  phy- 
sical actions  and  results  has  arrived  at  his  own  conclu- 
sions, may  they  not  be  expressed  in  common  language 
as  fully,  clearly,  and  definitely  as  in  mathematical 
formulas  ?  If  so,  would  it  not  be  a  great  boon  to  such 
as  we  to  express  them  so — translating  them  out  of 
their  hieroglyphics  that  we  also  might  work  upon  them 
by  experiment.  I  think  it  must  be  so,  because  I  have 
always  found  that  you  could  convey  to  me  a  perfectly 
clear  idea  of  your  conclusions,  which,  though  they  may 
give  me  no  full  understanding  of  the  steps  of  your 
process,  gave  me  the  results  neither  above  nor  below 
the  truth,  and  so  clear  in  character  that  I  can  think 
and  work  from  them. 

'  If  this  be  possible,  would  it  not  be  a  good  thing  if 
mathematicians,  writing  on  these  subjects,  were  to  give 
us  their  results  in  this  popular  useful  working  state 
c  c  2 


388  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1857.     as  well  as  in  that  which  is  their  own  and  proper  to 
laJT.65-66.  them? 

1  Ever,  my  dear  Sir,  most  truly  yours, 

«  M.  FARADAY.' 

His  second  lecture  for  the  Institution  was  on  the 
relations  of  gold  to  light.  At  the  end  of  the  lecture  he 
said :  '  The  object  of  these  investigations  was  to  ascertain 
the  varied  powers  of  a  substance  acting  upon  light 
when  its  particles  were  extremely  divided,  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  every  other  change  of  constitution.'  In  his 
notes  he  wrote  :  '  We  are  looking  for  the  first  small,  and 
as  yet  unknown,  effects,  for  these  grow  up  into  the  great 
advanced  truths  of  science — as  a  bubble — a  breaking 
forth — a  cascade — a  storm — Niagara  or  Schaffhausen 
— the  cannon's  mouth/ 

After  Easter  he  gave  a  course  of  six  lectures  on 
static  electricity. 

An  account  of  a  ready  method  of  determining  the 
presence,  position,  depth,  length  and  motion  (if  any)  of 
a  needle  broken  into  the  foot,  was  published  in  the 
'  Proceedings '  of  the  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society 
for  March  18th.  In  this,  as  in  all  that  he  did,  the  per- 
fection of  his  hand  work  as  well  as  his  head  work  is 
to  be  seen. 

He  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  on  electricity. 

He  made  six  reports  to  the  Trinity  House.  The 
most  important  was  on  Holmes's  magneto-electric  light, 
which  was  put  up  at  Blackwall,  and  observed  from 
Woolwich,  and  compared  with  a  Fresnel  lamp  in  the 
centre  of  Bishop's  lens,  and  also  in  the  focus  of  a 
parabolic  reflector.  He  critically  examined  the  cost  of 
the  apparatus,  the  price  of  the  light,  the  suppositions 


LETTERS    DURING    THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS    DECLINE  3&9 

regarding  its  intensity  and  advantages,  and  the  propo-      1857. 
sition  to  put  one  up  in  a  lighthouse.     He  agreed  to  the  ^ 
trial  of  the  light  at  the  South  Foreland. 

He  was  made  Member  of  the  Institute  of  Breslau  ; 
Corresponding  Associate  of  the  Institute  of  Sciences, 
Venice ;  and  Member  of  the  Imperial  Academy,  Breslau. 

As  evidences  of  his  reputation,  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Percy,  regarding  the  Presidentship  of  the  Eoyal  Society, 
and  from  Professor  Hansteen  of  Christiania,  are  of 
interest;  and  to  his  niece,  Miss  Eeid,  his  religious 
nature  is  shown  in  words  which  he  seldom  uttered. 

A  deputation  from  the  council  of  the  Eoyal  Society, 
consisting  of  the  President  (Lord  Wrottesley),  Mr. 
Grove,  and  Mr.  Gassiot,  went  to  Faraday  to  urge  his 
acceptance  of  the  Presidentship.  Dr.  Percy,  who  was 
one  of  the  council,  wrote  privately  to  him. 

He  answered : — 

FARADAY   TO    DR.    PERCY. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  May  21,  1857. 

;  My  dear  Percy, — Your  letter  is  very  kind  and 
earnest,  and  I  thank  you  heartily  for  it,  but  I  may  not 
change  my  conclusion.  None  can  know  but  myself 
how  unfit  it  would  be. 

i  Ever  affectionately  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

PROFESSOR   HAXSTEEN   TO    FARADAY. 

1  Observatory,  Christiania :  December  30,  1857. 

'  Dear  and  honoured  Sir, — I  thank  you  heartily  for 
your  letter  of  December  16.  At  first,  while  you  have 
written  yourself,  as  you  could  better  declare  the  cir- 
cumstances ;  and  secondly,  while  I  thereby  have 


390  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1857.  received  an  autographic  letter  from  a  man  which  I 
JET.65-  66.  many  years  have  honoured  as  one  of  the  chief  notabi- 
lities "  in  rebus  magneticis."  I  preserve  with  delight, 
and  perhaps  a  little  vanity,  letters  from  different  English 
scientifical  notabilities,  as  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  Sir  David 
Brewster,  Professor  Airy,  Professor  Forbes,  General 
Sabine,  Professor  Barlow,  and  others ;  and  to  this 
treasure  I  now  can  add  yours. 

'  Professor  Oersted  was  a  man  of  genius,  but  he  was  a 
very  unhappy  experimenter ;  he  could  not  manipulate 
instruments.  He  must  always  have  an  assistant,  or  one 
of  his  auditors  who  had  easy  hands,  to  arrange  the 
experiment ;  I  have  often  in  this  way  assisted  him  as 
his  auditor.  Already  in  the  former  century  there  was 
a  general  thought  that  there  was  a  great  conformity, 
and  perhaps  identity,  between  the  electrical  and  mag- 
netical  force  ;  it  was  only  the  question  how  to  demon- 
strate it  by  experiments.  Oersted  tried  to  place  the 
wire  of  his  galvanic  battery  perpendicular  (at  right 
angles)  over  the  magnetic  needle,  but  remarked  no 
sensible  motion.  Once,  after  the  end  of  his  lecture,  as 
as  he  had  used  a  strong  galvanic  battery  to  other 
experiments,  he  said,  "  Let  us  now  once,  as  the  battery 
is  in  activity,  try  to  place  the  wire  parallel  with  the 
needle ;"  as  this  was  made,  he  was  quite  struck  with 
perplexity  by  seeing  the  needle  making  a  great  oscilla- 
tion (almost  at  right  angles  with  the  magnetic  meridian). 
Then  he  said,  "  Let  us  now  invert  the  direction  of  the 
current,"  and  the  needle  deviated  in  the  contrary 
direction.  Thus  the  great  detection  was  made ;  and  it 
has  been  said,  not  without  reason,  that  "  he  tumbled 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  391 

over  it  by  accident."     He  had  not  before  any  more     1857.^ 
idea  than  any  other  person  that  the  force  should  be  2Br.66-fi«. 
transversal.     But  as  Lagrange  has  said  of  Newton  in 
a  similar  occasion,  "  such  accidents  only  meet  persons 
who  deserve  them." 

'  You  completed  the  detection  by  inverting  the  expe- 
riment by  demonstrating  that  an  electrical  current  can 
be  excited  by  a  magnet,  and  this  was  no  accident,  but 
a  consequence  of  a  clear  idea.  I  pretermit  your  many 
later  important  detections,  which  will  conserve  your 
name  with  golden  letters  in  the  history  of  magnetism. 

'  Gauss  was  the  first  who  applied  your  detection  to 
give  telegraphic  signals  from  the  Observatory  in  Gb't- 
tingen  to  the  Physical  Hall,  in  a  distance  of  almost  an 
English  mile  from  the  Observatory. 

'  I  very  well  understand  your  situation.  I  can  also 
not  work  in  company  with  other  persons ;  and  I  read 
not  much,  for  not  to  be  distracted  from  nay  own  way 
of  thinking ;  I  allow  that  thereby  many  things  escape 
me,  but  I  fear  to  be  distracted  upon  sideways — "  Non 
omnia  possumus  omnes."  Every  one  must  follow  his 
own  nature. 

*  I  have  translated  an  extract  of  your  letter,  and  sent 
it  to  Gottingen  to  Mr.  Arndtsen. 

'  In  the  summer  1819,  I  visited,  in  long  time,  almost 
every  day  the  library  in  Eoyal  Institution,  in  order  to 
extract  magnetical  observations  (declination  and  in- 
clination), from  old  works  which  our  University  was 
not  in  possession  of;  for  instance,  "Hackluyt"  and 
"  Purchas,  his  pillegrims,"  &c.  So  I  am  acquainted  with 
the  place  of  your  activity. 

'  I  have  in  this  year  received  your  portrait  from  Mr. 


39*2  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1857.     Lenoir  in  Vienna,  as  also  of  Sir  David  Brewster.     They 
JEx.65-66.  shall  decorate  my  study  on  the  side  of  Oersted,  Bessel, 
Gauss,  and  Struve. 

'  Believe  me,  Sir,  sincerely  your  very  respectful, 

'Cira.  HANSTEEX.' 


FARADAY   TO   MISS   REID.1 


•'- 


f  Royal  Institution :  January  1, 1857.     5  o'clock  P.M. 

'  My  very  dear  Girl, — Your  aunt  has  just  brought  me 
your  letter ;  she  has  just  had  it.  We  both  write  by  my 
pen,  to  save  the  post.  Poor  girl !  we  pity  you  all,  as 
you  may  think  ;  it  needs  not  to  say  how  much.  The 
suddenness  and  awful  character  of  the  case  may  make 
us  all  tremble  in  our  love  to  each  other,  and  that  whilst, 
as  I  trust  it  will  be  with  you,  we  look  unto  Him  who 
rules  all  things  according  to  the  purpose  of  His  own 
will,  let  us  strive  to  accept  the  sorrow  submissively, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  do  what  remains  in  our  power 
with  hope  of  a  blessing  on  the  intention. 

'How  vain  is  life  !  In  the  midst  of  yours,  which  was 
not  altogether  smooth,  still  how  great  a  trouble  may  be 
brought  into  it.  But  be  composed  ;  as  far  as  remem- 
brance of  the  hand  that  is  over  all  can  give  composure, 
though  it  must  be  but  partial.  The  Lord  gave,  'the 
Lord  taketh  away.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

4  As  for  advice,  I  can  have  none  to  give — those  only 
who  are  on  the  spot  can  tell  rightly ;  but  we  feel  sorry 

it  should  come  in  's  way,  though  perhaps  it  may 

do  no  harm. we  should  have  confidence  in, 

except  that  her  physical  strength  is  weak,  "  but  out  of 
weakness  are  made  strong"  is  a  comfortable  thought. 

1  On  the  sudden  death  of  her  sister. 


LETTERS    DURING    THE    PERIOD    OF   HIS    DECLINE. 


393 


'Give  our  kindest  love  to  your  father.     In  these      1858. 
heavy  sorrows,  I  think  the  words  of  condolence  shrink  ^T.66-67. 
into  iny  pen  ;  the  thoughts  of  your  heart  must  speak 
for  us  ;  and  we  commend  you  in  your  great  trouble  to 
Him  who  is  able  to  sustain  you. 

'  Your  loving  uncle, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 


FARADAY'S  HOUSE,  HAMPTOX  COURT. 

In  1858,  through  the  thoughtful  kindness  of  Prince 
Albert,  the  Queen  offered  him  a  house  on  Hampton 
Court  Green.  It  required  repair,  and  he  doubted 
whether  he  could  afford  to  do  it  up. 

Faraday  wrote  to  Dr.  Becker,  Prince  Albert's  secre- 
tary:— 

'  Albemarle  Street,  w. :  April  20,  1858. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Becker, — I  believe  you  know  all  about 
the  extreme  kindness  shown  to  me  in  respect  of  one  of 


394  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1858.  Her  Majesty's  houses  at  Hampton  Court.  I  am  in  a 
JET.66-67.  little  difficulty  about  either  accepting  or  declining  it: 
The  manner  in  which  it  is  offered  to  me  is  such  as 
would  make  it  grievous  to  me  to  decline  it,  and  yet,  if 
it  is  not  improper,  I  should  like  to  have  a  few  words 
with  you  before  I  finally  settle.  At  what  hour  could  I 
call  to  see  you,  and  where  ? 

i  Ever  your  obliged, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.    BECKER. 

'  Royal  Institution :  May  5, 1858. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Becker,—  I  had  a  most  kind  letter  from 
Col.  Phipps,  who,  speaking  in  the  name  of  Her  Majesty, 
removed  all  my  difficulty,  and  so  yesterday  I  could 
accept  the  favour  offered  me.  I  dare  say  you  know 
these  things,  but  I  felt  as  if  I  must  either  call  or  write 
to  you  on  the  occasion ;  and  as  I  had  troubled  you  too 
much  already  by  calls,  I  take  the  latter  course.  I  am 
surprised  by  the  kindness  I  have  received  on  this  occa- 
sion, which,  in  the  case  of  Her  Majesty's  unsought  con- 
descension, astonishes  me.  I  know  that  your  good 
wishes  are  with  me  in  this  matter,  and  they  are  of  the 
greater  value  to  me,  as  they  are  free  and  unsolicited — 
the  spontaneous  result  of  your  own  kind  thought. 
Whilst  enjoying  Hampton  for  a  year  or  two,  as  I  hope 
to  do,  pleasant  remembrances  will  be  called  up  on 
every  side. 

4  Ever,  my  dear  Dr.  Becker,  yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  wrote  to  a  niece : — 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END    OF   HIS    LIFE.  395 

c  The  case  is  settled.     The  Queen  has  desired  me  to     1858. 
dismiss  all  thoughts  of  the  repairs,  as  the  house  is  to  be  ^r.66-67. 
put  into  thorough  repair  both  inside  and  out.     The 
letter  from  Sir  C.  Phipps  is  most  kind.' 

To  Sir  C.  Phipps  he  wrote  : — 

4 1  find  it  difficult  to  write  my  thanks  or  express  my 
sense  of  the  gratitude  I  owe  to  Her  Majesty ;  first,  for 
the  extreme  kindness  which  is  offered  to  me  in  the  use 
of  the  house  at  Hampton  Court,  but  far  more  for  that 
condescension  and  consideration  which,  in  respect  of 
personal  rest  and  health,  was  the  moving  cause  of  the 
offer.  I  feared  that  I  might  not  be  able  properly  to 
accept  Her  Majesty's  most  gracious  favour.  I  would 
not  bring  myself  to  decline  so  honourable  an  offer,  and 
yet  I  was  constrained  carefully  to  consider  whether 
its  acceptance  was  consistent  with  my  own  particular 
and  peculiar  circumstances.  The  enlargement  of  Her 
Majesty's  favour  has  removed  all  difficulty.  I  accept 
with  deep  gratitude,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  help  me 
to  express  fitly  to  Her  Majesty  my  thanks  and  feelings 
on  this  occasion.' 

M.  de  la  Rive  was  requested  to  write  a  short 
biography  of  Mrs.  Marcet,  and  for  this  he  asked 
if  it  were  true  that  Faraday  was  inspired  with  his  first 
taste  for  chemistry  and  physics  by  reading  Mrs.  Marcet's 
'  Conversations  on  Chemistry,'  and  whether  this  deter- 
mined the  course  of  his  work.  He  answered  : — 

'  Your  subject  interested  me  deeply  every  way,  for 
Mrs.  Marcet  was  a  good  friend  to  me,  as  she  must  have 
been  to  many  of  the  human  race.  I  entered  the  shop 
of  a  bookseller  and  bookbinder  at  the  age  of  13,  in  the 


396  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1858.  year  1804,  remained  there  eight  years,  and  during  the 
jEi.66-67.  chief  part  of  the  time  bound  books.  Now  it  was  in 
those  books,  in  the  hours  after  work,  that  I  found  the 
beginning  of  my  philosophy.  There  were  two  that 
especially  helped  me,  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Britannica," 
from  which  I  gained  my  first  notions  of  electricity,  and 
Mrs.  Marcet's  "Conversations  on  Chemistry,"  which  gave 
me  my  foundation  in  that  science. 

4  Do  not  suppose  that  I  was  a  very  deep  thinker,  or 
was  marked  as  a  precocious  person.  I  was  a  very  lively, 

-imaginative  person,  and  could  believe  in  the  "Arabian 
Nights"  as  easily  as  in  the  "Encyclopedia;  "  but  facts 
were  important  to  me,  and  saved  me.  I  could  trust  a 
fact,  and  always  cross-examined  an  assertion.  So  when 
I  questioned  Mrs.  Marcet's  book  by  such  little  experi- 

'ments  as  I  could  find  means  to  perform,  and  found  it 

'true  to  the  tacts  as  I  could  understand  them,  I  felt  that 
I  had  got  hold  of  an  anchor  in  chemical  knowledge,  and 

•clung  fast  to  it.  Thence  my  deep  veneration  for  Mrs. 
Marcet :  first,  as  one  who  had  conferred  great  personal 

'good  and  pleasure  on  me,  and  then  as  one  able  to  con- 
vey the  truth  and  principle  of  those  boundless  fields  of 
knowledge  .which  concern  natural  things,  to  the  young, 
untaught,  and  inquiring  mind. 

'You  may  imagine  my  delight  when  I  came  to 
know  Mrs.  Marcet  personally;  how  often  I  cast  my 
thoughts  backwards,  delighting  to  connect  the  past  and 
the  present ;  how  often,  when  sending  a  paper  to  her 
as  a  thank-offering,  I  thought  of  my  first  instructress, 

•  arid  such  like  thoughts  will  remain  with  me. 

4  L  have  some  such  thoughts  even  as  regards  your  own 
father,  who  was,  I  may  say,  the  first  who  personally,  at 


THE   DECLINE   AND    END    OF   HIS    LIFE.  397 

Geneva,  and  afterwards  by  correspondence,  encouraged,      1858. 
and  by  that  sustained  me.'  ^ET.66~67.. 

The  work  done  in  the  laboratory  in  1858  was  very 
little.  It  was  chiefly  on  the  same  subject  as  the  previous 
year — time  in  relation  to  magnetism ;  but  no  '  success- 
ful result '  was  obtained. 

To  TyndalTs  paper  on  the  physical  properties  of  ice, 
which  was  published  in  the  *  Philosophical  Transactions  * 
this  year,  a  note  on  ice  of  irregular  fusibility  was  added 
by  Faraday. 

At  the  house  of  Mr.  Gassiot,  at  Clapham,  and  also  at 
the  Institution,  he  worked  on  the  stratification  of  the  elec- 
tric discharge  in  vacuum  tubes.  Mr.  Gassiot  says  in  his 
paper  printed  in  the  '  Philosophical  Transactions '  that 
he  was  much  indebted  to  Dr.  Faraday  for  suggestions, 
advice,  and  personal  assistance  in  the  progress  of  his 
researches. 

•  For  the  Institution  he  gave  two  Friday  discourses. 
The  first  was  on  static  induction ;  and  the  other  on 
Wheatstone's  electric  telegraph  in  relation  to  science 
(being  an  argument  in  favour  of  the  full  recogni- 
tion of  science  as  a  branch  of  education).  His  notes 
of  this  lecture  begin  thus : — '  I  have  no  intention  to 
look  at  electric  telegraphs  generally,  and  to  decide 
amongst  them,  or  to  assign  to  those  I  shall  consider 
their  proper  place.  I  take  them  as  illustrations  of  the 
progress  of  scientific  knowledge  in  our  day ;  since  the 
first  dawn  and  the  perfection  of  them  is  ours.  By 
distinct  steps  I  shall  try  to  show  what  the  world  has 
gained  in  one  branch  only  of  scientific  knowledge  within 
a  few  short  years ;  how  that  knowledge  has  stepped  on 
by  the  joint  application  of  intellect  and  experiment  to 


398  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1858.^  its  development,  and  how  quickly  the  practical  applica- 
^T.66-67.  tion,  covering  with  its  abundant  fruit  the  face  of  the 
globe,  has  subserved  the  purposes  of  man  in  their  most 
intellectual  as  well  as  most  practical  exercises.  I  am 
no  poet,  but  if  you  think  for  yourselves,  as  I  proceed, 
the  facts  will  form  a  poem  in  your  minds.'  His  notes 
end  thus  :  '  We  learn  by  such  results  as  these,  what  is 
the  kind  of  education  that  science  offers  to  man.  It 
teaches  us  to  be  neglectful  of  nothing,  not  to  despise  the 
small  beginnings — they  precede  of  necessity  all  great 
things.  Vesicles  make  clouds ;  they  are  trifles  light  as 
air,  but  then  they  make  drops,  and  drops  make  showers, 
rain  makes  torrents  and  rivers,  and  these  can  alter  the 
face  of  a  country,  and  even  keep  the  ocean  to  its  proper 
fulness  and  use.  It  teaches  a  continual  comparison 
of  the  small  and  great,  and  that  under  differences 
almost  approaching  the  infinite,  for  the  small  as 
often  contains  the  great  in  principle,  as  the  great  does 
the  small ;  and  thus  the  mind  becomes  comprehensive. 
It  teaches  to  deduce  principles  carefully,  to  hold  them 
firmly,  or  to  suspend  the  judgment,  to  discover  and  obey 
law,  and  by  it  to  be  bold  in  applying  to  the  greatest 
what  we  know  of  the  smallest.  It  teaches  us  first 
by  tutors  and  books,  to  learn  that  which  is  already 
known  to  others,  and  then  by  the  light  and  methods 
which  belong  to  science  to  learn  for  ourselves  and  for 
others ;  so  making  a  fruitful  return  to  man  in  the  future 
for  that  which  we  have  obtained  from  the  men  of  the 
past.  Bacon  in  his  instruction  tells  us  that  the  scientific 
student  ought  not  to  be  as  the  ant,  who  gathers 
merely,  nor  as  the  spider  who  spins  from  her  own 
bowels,  but  rather  as  the  bee  who  both  gathers  and 
produces. 


THE   DECLINE   AND    END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  399 

'  All  this  is  true  of  the  teaching  afforded  by  any  part  1858. 
of  physical  science.  Electricity  is  often  called  wonder- 
ful,  beautiful ;  but  it  is  so  only  in  common  with  the 
other  forces  of  nature.  The  beauty  of  electricity  or  of 
any  other  force  is  not  that  the  power  is  mysterious, 
and  unexpected,  touching  every  sense  at  unawares  in 
turn,  but  that  it  is  under  law,  and  that  the  taught 
intellect  can  even  now  govern  it  largely.  The  human 
mind  is  placed  above,  and  not  beneath  it,  and  it  is  in 
such  a  point  of  view  that  the  mental  education  afforded 
by  science  is  rendered  super-eminent  in  dignity,  in 
practical  application  and  utility  ;  for  by  enabling  the 
mind  to  apply  the  natural  power  through  law,  it  conveys 
the  gifts  of  God  to  man.' 

He  again  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  on  the  metallic 
properties. 

He  made  twelve  reports  to  the  Trinity  House.  The 
most  important  was  on  the  electric  light  at  the  South 
Foreland.  He  went  there  with  a  Committee  of  the 
Trinity  House,  to  see  it  from  sea  and  land.  The  light 
was  in  the  centre  of  the  Fresnel  apparatus,  in  the  upper 
light,  as  a  fixed  light,  and  so  comparable  with  the  lower 
fixed  light,  which  consisted  of  oil-lamps  in  reflectors. 
They  went  to  the  Varne  light-ship.  The  upper  was 
generally  inferior  to  the  lower  light.  Next  morning  they 
went  to  the  lighthouse,  and  examined  it  by  clay ;  and 
again  at  night. 

He  was  made  Corresponding  Member  of  the  Hun- 
garian Academy  of  Sciences,  Pesth ;  and  Sir  David 
Brewster  tried  to  tempt  him  to  accept  the  Professorship 
of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 

The  correspondence  this  year  is  not  of  great  interest. 
His  kind  feeling  is  apparent^  whether  he  writes  to  the 


400  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1858.  Duke  of  Northumberland,  who  wished  to  resign  the 
'JET.' 66.  Presidentship  of  the  Eoyal  Institution ;  or  to  a  Eoyal 
Academician  who  wished  to  paint  his  portrait ;  or  to 
Professor  Tyndall  who  had  just  sent  him  an  account  of 
the  ascent  of  Monte  Eosa  ;  or  to  his  friend  Schonbein, 
who  he  thought  would  help  him  to  a  subject  for  a 
Friday  evening  discourse  at  the  Eoyal  Institution. 

FARADAY   TO    HIS   GRACE   THE  DUKE  OF  NORTHUMBERLAND. 
«  Royal  Institution  :  February  10,  1858.  - 

'  My  Lord  Duke, — According  to  your  Grace's  kind 
wish,  Mr.  Barlow  has  shown  me  the  letter  he  received 
from  you,  and  therefore  I  take  the  liberty  of  expressing 
an  opinion  upon  one  point,  being  sure,  from  the  kind- 
ness your  Grace  showed  me,  when  on  a  former  occa- 
sion the  matter  of  the  Presidentship  was  in  considera- 
tion, that  I  shall  not  by  doing  so  give  offence. 

'  I  think  it  would  be  a  very  serious  thing  for  the 
president  and  the  secretary  to  resign  at  the  same  time. 
It  would  be  sure  to  give  occasion  to  the  thought 
that  there  was  some  reason  touching  the  character 
of  the  Institution,  which  united  the  two  in  the  act ; 
and  the  thought  would  be  the  more  inconvenient 
because,  as  no  open  reason  would  appear,  an  unpleasant 
one,  according  to  the  common  course  of  human  nature, 
would  be  assigned.  It  grieves  me  to  think  that  either 
president  or  secretary  should  ever  leave  the  Insti- 
tution ;  but  as  such  events  must  occur  in  the  course  of 
nature,  I  do  hope  most  earnestly  that  the  resignation  of 
the  one  may  overpass  the  other  by  a  year  or  two,  that 
the  present  policy,  which  seems  so  good  and  prosperous, 
may  not  be  suddenly  interrupted,  but  transmitted 
through  the  gradual  change. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE    PERIOD    OF   HIS   DECLINE.  401 

'  Again  begging  for  your  Grace's  kind  reception  of     1858. 
my  .free  thoughts   on   this    occasion,  as  on  others,  I    lErTeeT 
sign  myself,  most  truly,  your  Grace's  free,  faithful,  and 
humble  servant, 

<M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO  A  R.A.  WHO  WISHED  TO  PAINT  HIS  PORTRAIT. 
'Royal  Institution  :  May  10,  1858. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  am  puzzled  how  to  answer 
your  note  of  the  8th,  and  our  meeting  in  the  evening 
only  adds  to  my  difficulty.  The  much  occupation  I 
have  here,  the  continual  delay  of  the  pursuit  of  my  own 
research  (a  delay  now  extending  over  two  years),  and 
the  weariness  of  head  and  health  resulting  from  this 
continued  occupation,  had  made  me  resolve  never  to 
sit  again, 

'  There  are  two  or  three  who  claim  the  first  right 
if  I  break  through  the  determination,  but  they  are 
content  with  such  an  answer.  Nevertheless,  if  I  sit  to 
you  now,  having  done  so  very  frequently,  on  two 
former  separate  occasions,  I  think  they  will  have  a 
just  right  to  complain.  I  think  you  said  that  I  had 
promised  this  to  you.  I  do  not  remember  any  distinct 
promise,  but  as  you  have  understood  it  so,  I  will 
endeavour  to  arrange  for  six  sittings  ;  I  trust  that  they 
will  be  sufficient  to  complete  the  last  picture  (which 
was  left  off  very  suddenly),  and  then,  if  I  have  health 
and  strength,  I  must  go  to  my  research.  I  think,  as  far 
as  I  can  see,  that  Tuesday  mornings,  early,  would  suit 
my  arrangements. 

'  I  understood  you  to  say  on  Saturday,  that  it  was 
for  my  sake  you  desired  to  paint  another  picture. 
Notwithstanding  the  high  compliment  which  this 

VOL.  II.  D  D 


402  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1858.  implies,  all  the  reasons  having  relation  to  me  are  against 
jEx.66-67.  it.  I  should  give  offence  to  others,  whom  I  esteem 
most  highly.  I  want  my  time,  if  well  enough,  for  thought 
and  research ;  exhausting  as  these  are  to  me,  I  want 
time  for  rest  and  health.  Twice  before  have  I  for  long 
periods  together  been  a  burden  to  your  genius  ;  and  I 
have  arrived  at  such  a  time  of  life  as  to  be  no  longer 
vain  of  what  may  well  be  considered  as  a  distinction. 
I  am  quite  prepared  to  do  what  I  have  said  for  your 
sake,  but  find  no  motive  in  any  circumstance  tli.it  is 
connected  with  my  own. 

4  Ever  yours  faithfully, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.    TYNDALL 

(ON    HIS   ASCENT    OF    MONTE    ROSA). 

1  Royal  Institution :  September  2,1858. 

'  My  dear  Tyndall, — I  might  not  have  written  to 
you  again,  but  for  the  receipt  of  your  letter  by  my 
wife,  detailing  the  ascent  of  Monte  Rosa,  and  the  enor- 
mous indiscretion  I  have  committed  thereupon.  What 
shall  I  say  ?  I  have  sent  it  to  the  "  Times."  There,  the 
whole  is  out.  I  do  not  know  whether  to  wish  it  may 
appear  to-morrow,  or  next  day,  or  not.  If  you  should 
dislike  it,  I  shall  ever  regret  the  liberty  I  have  taken. 
But  it  was  so  interesting  in  every  point  of  view,  show- 
ing the  life  and  spirit  of  a  philosopher  engaged  in  his 
cause ;  showing  not  merely  the  results  of  the  man's 
exertions  but  his  motives  and  his  nature — the  philo- 
sophy of  his  calling  and  vocation  as  well  as  the  philo- 
sophy of  his  subject,  that  I  could  not  resist ;  and  I  was 
the  more  encouraged  to  do  so  because,  from  the  whole 
character  and  appearance  of  the  letter,  it  showed  that 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  403 

it  was  an  unpremeditated  relation,  and  that  you  had      1858. 
nothing  to  do  with  its  appearance,  i.e.  it  will  show  that,     JET^T. 
if  it  should  appear.     How   I  hope   you  forgive  me. 
Nobody  will  find  fault  with  me,  but  you.     It  came  too 
late    for    the  "  Philosophical   Magazine,"   but   if  the 
"  Times  "   does  not   put  it  in,  I  shall  send  it  to  the 
"  Philosophical  Magazine."     However,  as  this  is  only 
the  3rd  of  the  month,  there  is  time  enough  for  that. 

'  I  won't  give  you  any  scolding.  I  dare  say  my 
wife  will  when  you  see  her.  "  Etes-vous  marie?" 
indeed.  I  cannot  help  but  feel  glad  you  have  done 
it  now  it  is  done ;  but  I  would  not  have  taken  the 
least  portion  of  responsibility  in  advising  you  to  such 
a  thing. 

4  I  have  no  philosophy,  and  no  news  for  you.  I  feel 
just  out  of  the  world — forgetful,  and  dull-headed  in 
respect  of  science,  and  of  many  other  things,  but  well 
and  content,  as  I  have  great  reason  to  be. 

'  Good-bye,  my  dear  friend,  ever  truly  yours, 

1  M.  FARADAY. 

'  Friday  morning,  3rd.     The  letter  is  there.' 

To  Professor  Schonbein  he  thus  writes,  with  respect 
to  a  lecture  to  be  given  at  the  Royal  Institution  : — 

FARADAY   TO    PROFESSOR   SCIIOXBEIN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  13,  1858. 

'  My  dear  Schonbein, — Daily  and  hourly  am  I  think- 
ing about  you  and  yours,  and  yet  with  as  unsatisfactory 
a  result  as  it  is  possible  for  me  to  have.  I  think 
about  ozone,  about  antozone,  about  the  experiments 

D    D    2 


404  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1858.  you  showed  to  Dr.  Bence  Jones,  about  your  peroxide 
JET.  67.  of  barium,  your  antozonised  oil  of  turpentine,  and  it 
all  ends  in  a  giddiness  and  confusion  of  the  points  that 
ought  to  be  remembered.  I  want  to  tell  our  audience 
what  your  last  results  are  upon  this  most  beautiful 
investigation,  and  yet  am  terrified  at  the  thoughts  of 
trying  to  do  so,  from  the  difficulty  of  remembering 
from  the  reading  of  one  letter  to  that  of  another, 
what  the  facts  in  the  former  were.  I  have  never 
before  felt  so  seriously  the  evil  of  loss  of  memory 
and  of  clearness  in  the  head ;  and  though  I  expect  to 
fail  some  day  at  the  lecture  table,  as  I  get  older,  I 
should  not  like  to  fail  in  ozone,  or  in  anything  about 
you.  I  have  been  making  some  of  the  experiments 
Dr.  Bence  Jones  told  me  of,  and  succeeded  in  some, 
but  do  not  succeed  in  all.  Neither  do  I  know  the 
shape  in  which  you  make  them,  as  (I  understand) 
good  class  experiments  and  telling  proofs  of  an  argu- 
ment. Yet  without  experiments  I  am  nothing. 

'  If  I  were  at  your  elbow  for  an  hour  or  two,  I 
would  get  all  that  instniction  (as  to  precaution)  out 
of  you,  which  might  bring  my  courage  up.  I  re- 
member in  old  time  (at  the  beginning  of  ozone),  you 
charged  me  with  principles  and  experiments.  I 
wonder  whether  you  could  help  me  again  ?  Most 
likely  not,  and  it  is  a  shame  that  I  should  require  it ; 
but  without  such  help  and  precautions  on  my  part, 
I  am  physically  unable  to  hold  my  place  at  the  table. 
And  without  I  justify  my  appearance  on  a  Friday 
evening,  I  had  better  withdraw  from  the  duty. 

1  What  I  should  want  would  be  from  ten  to  fifteen, 
or  at  most  twenty,  table  experiments,  with  such  in- 
structions as  to  vessels,  quantities,  states  of  solution, 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  405 

materials,  and  precautions,  as  would  make  the  experi-      1858. 
ments  visible  to  all,  and  certain  and  ready.     Also  the  -^66-67. 
points  of  the  general  subject,  in  what  you  have  found 
to  be  the  best  order  for  the  argument  and  its  proof. 

'  I  have  sought  for  the  old  bottle  of  antozone  oil 
of  turpentine,  but  believe  I  have  used  it  all  up.  I 
fear  it  is  of  no  use  trying  to  make  it  by  the  end  of 
January,  next  year.  Yet  about  that  time  I  must  give 
the  evening,  if  I  give  it  at  all.  If  you  encourage  me 
to  give  the  argument  (and  I  can  only  try  if  you  help 
me),  have  you  any  of  the  substance  you  could  spare, 
and  could  you  find  conveyance  for  it  by  rail  or  other- 
wise? I  fear  there  is  no  other  substance  that  will 
represent  it,  i.e.,  that  approaches  so  near  to  isolated 
antozoue,  as  that  body  does. 

'  Now  do  not  scold  me.  I  am  obliged  to  speak  as 
I  do.  Perhaps  you  had  better  tell  me  that  I  must 
give  up  the  subject,  for  that  I  can  hardly  succeed 
in  telling  it  properly  by  the  way  I  propose.  Do  not 
hesitate  to  say  so,  for  I  am  well  prepared,  by  my  inner 
experience  in  other  matters,  to  suppose  that  may  be 
the  case.  But  then  tell  me  so  at  once,  that  I  may 
think  on  my  position  here  for  January. 

'  Now  for  a  more  cheery  subject 

'  Believe  me  to  be,  as  ever,  my  dear  Schonbein, 
your  true  and  obliged  friend, 

'M.FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  25,  1858. 

'  Warmest  thanks,  my  dear  friend,  for  your  last  kind 
letter  ;  it  has  given  me  courage,  and  yet  when  I  look 
into  the  journals  about  ozone,  and  see  how  many 


406  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1859.     things  there  are  which   have  been  said  by  different 
jET.67-68.  men,  and  how  thoroughly  I  have  forgotten  most  of 
them,  it  makes  me  very  doubtful  of  myself,  for  I  can- 
not hold  many  points  in  hand  at  once,  as  I  used  to  do, 
but  I  shall  trust  in  your  strength  and  kindness. 

*  It  is  the  experimental  proofs,  and  the  method  of 
making  them    perfectly,  about  which  I  am  anxious, 
and   none   but    the   discovering  philosopher    himself 
knows  how  best  to  make  their  value  evident ;  for  that 
reason  I  desire  to  work  with  your  tools,  and  in  your 
way. 

*  Kindest  remembrances  to  the  household,  from  one 
always  under  obligation  to  you,  and  ever  yours, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 

In  1859  the  notes  made  in  the  laboratory  book 
are  characteristic  in  the  highest  degree  of  the  working 
of  Faraday's  mind.  In  them  may  be  seen  the  depths 
of  his  imagination,  brought  to  the  test  of  the  most 
searching  experiments,  the  strongest  faith  in  his 
thoughts  with  the  truest  judgment  of  his  results.  On 
February  10,  paragraph  15,785,  he  writes: — 'Surely 
the  force  of  gravitation,  and  its  probable  relation  to 
other  forms  of  force,  may  be  attacked  by  experiment. 
Let  us  try  to  think  of  some  possibilities. 

*  15,786.  Suppose  a  relation  to  exist  between  gravita- 
tion and  electricity,  and  that  as  gravitation  diminishes 
or  increases  by  variation  of  distance,  electricity  either 
positive  or  negative  were  to  appear — is   not   likely ; 
nevertheless,  try,  for  less  likely  things  apparently  have 
happened  in  nature. 

'  15,787.  There  is  more  chance  of  any  observable 
effect  in  a  body  acted  on  by  the  earth,  than  in  the 


THE    DECLINE   AND    END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  407 

same   body  acted  on  by  a  like  body.     There  is  more      1859. 
chance  of  a  variation  being  observed  in  a  ton  of  water  iT. GT^JS. 
or  lead,  when  lifted  a  hundred  yards  upwards  from 
the  earth,  than  in  the  same  ton  when  moved  a  hun- 
dred yards  in  a  horizontal  direction  from  the  side  of 
another  ton,  by  which  it  at  first  stood. 

4 15,788.  Must  not  be  deterred  by  the  old  experi- 
ments (10,018,  &c.)  If  there  be  any  true  effect  of 
gravity,  it  may  take  much  gravitating  matter  to  make 
the  effect  sensible,  and  I  had  but  very  little.  More- 
over, the  action  of  a  body  with  or  against  gravity 
ought  not  to  form  a  current  in  a  closed  circuit,  as  tried 
in  the  former  case,  but  perhaps  give  opposite  states 
in  lifted  or  depressed  bodies ;  and  though  a  current 
might  be  found  in  a  wire  connecting  two  such,  it 
would  not  be  a  current  in  a  circuit.  So  may  con- 
sider the  imaginable  effects  under  two  views,  static 
and  dynamic.  Take  the  former  first,  and  imagine  as 
follows : — 

'15,789.  If  an  insulated  body,  being  lifted  from  the 
earth,  does  evolve  electricity  in  proportion  to  its  loss 
of  gravitating  force,  then  it  may  become  charged  to  a 
very  minute  degree,  either  positive  or  negative.  When 
thus  charged,  it  may  be  discharged,  and  then,  if 
allowed  to  descend  insulated,  it  would  become  charged 
in  the  opposite  matter,  and  so  on.  If  three  or  more 
bodies  of  the  same  size,  but  in  weights,  as  1,  2,  and  3, 
then  the  intensity  of  the  charge  ought  to  be  as  the 
densities. 

'  15,7^0.  Might  not  two  globes  (or  masses,  as  pigs  of 
lead),  A,  B,  attached  to  the  end  of  a  long  rope,  passing 
over  a  large  pulley  at  the  top  of  the  clock-tower,  or 
in  the  whispering-gallery  of  St.  Paul's,  serve  an  ex- 


408  LIFE   OF   FA  It  AD  AY. 

1859.  perimental  purpose?  Starting  with  botli  balls  in- 
yE-r.67-68.  sulated,  discharged,  and  balanced,  then  it  would  be 
easy  to  raise  B  and  lower  A,  and  examination  by  a 
very  delicate  static  electrometer  might  show  A  charged 
positive,  and  B  negative  ;  then  discharging  both,  and 
reversing  the  motion,  B  would  come  down  positive, 
and  A  become  negative,  and  so  on.  The  static  electro- 
meter might  be  applied  either  above  or  below,  or  at 
both  places.  If  the  effect  were  real  but  insensible, 
several  journeys  up  and  down  might  be  effected,  the 
discharge  above  being  made  by  bell-wire  and  touching 
lever,  or  the  discharge  above  and  below  might  be 
made  automatically  to  two  electroscopes,  one  above 
and  one  below,  so  as  to  accumulate  many  results  into 
one.  These  electrometers  being  very  delicate  and  of 
the  condensing  kind,  one  man,  having  only  to  turn  a 
windlass,  might  work  the  apparatus  for  half  a  da}*,  or 
it  might  be  kept  in  motion  by  a  steam-engine,  or  other 
mechanical  power. 

'  15,795.  The  evolution  of  one  electricity  would  be  a 
new  and  very  remarkable  thing.  The  idea  throws  a 
doubt  on  the  whole  ;  but  still  try,  for  who  knows  what 
is  possible  in  dealing  with  gravity. 

'  15,796.  The  first  thought  would  give  a  new  re- 
lation, a  relation  of  a  dual  power  to  a  single  power, 
which  would  probably  give  a  modification  to  the 
character  of  singleness  supposed  to  belong  to  gravita- 
tion, for  it  would  then  be  as  dual  as  electricity. 

'  15,799.  Perhaps  a  jet  of  drops  of  water  from  a  height 
would  tell  below,  only  water  is  a  bad  substance,  because 
of  the  discharging  facility  of  moist  air. 

'  15,800.  Possibly  a  jet  of  lead  would  do  better ;  the 
fall  of  shot  in  the  shot-tower  ;  might  insulate  the  tub  of 


THE    DECLINE  AND    END    OF   HIS    LIFE.  409 

water  into  which  it  falls  below,  and  so  get  traces  of     1859. 
any  evolution.  M^T^GS. 

'  15,804.  Let  us  encourage  ourselves  by  a  little  more 
imagination  prior  to  experiment.  Atmospheric  pheno- 
mena favour  the  idea  of  the  convertibility  of  gravitating 
force  into  electricity,  and  back  again;  probably  (or 
perhaps  then  into  heat)  matter  is  constantly  falling  and 
rising  in  the  air.  The  difference  and  the  change  of 
place  of  the  bodies  subject  to  gravity  would  perhaps 
give  a  predominant  electric  state  above,  as  the  negative, 
but  also  an  occasional  charge  of  the  other  state,  the 
positive.  If  there  be  this  supposed  relation  of  gravity 
and  electricity,  and  the  above  space  be  chiefly  or 
generally  negative,  then  we  might  expect  that,  as 
matter  rises  from  the  earth,  or  moves  against  gravity,  it 
becomes  negative. 

'  15,805.  Here  we  might  expect  a  wonderful  opening 
out  of  the  electrical  phenomena. 

'  15,806.  So  to  say,  even  the  changed  force  of  gravity 
as  electricity  might  travel  about  the  earth's  surface, 
changing  its  place,  and  then  becoming  the  equivalent 
of  gravity. 

'  15,807.  Perhaps  heat  is  the  related  condition  of 
the  force  when  change  in  gravity  occurs ;  atmospheric, 
phenomena  are  not  at  first  sight  opposed  to  this  view ; 
might  associate  a  thermo-electric  pile  or  couple,  to 
see  if  change  of  elevation  from  the  earth  causes  any 
sensible  change  of  temperature. 

'  15,808.  Perhaps  almost  all  the  varying  phenomena 
of  atmospheric  heat,  electricity,  &c.,  may  be  referable 
to  effects  of  gravitation,  and  in  that  respect  the  latter 
may  prove  to  be  one  of  the  most  changeable  powers, 
instead  of  one  of  the  most  unchanged. 


410  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1859.  '15,809.  Let  the  imagination  go,  guarding  it  by 
jETtfiMJS.  judgment  and  principle,  but  holding  it  in  and  directing 
it  by  experiment. 

'  15,810.  If  any  effect,  either  electric  or  calorific, 
then  consider  the  infinity  of  action  in  nature — a  planet 
or  a  comet  when  nearer  or  further  from  the  sun.  Dr. 
Winslow's  observations  on  earthquakes,  a  falling  river 
or  cascade,  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  evaporation,  vapour 
rising,  rain  falling,  hail,  negative  state  of  the  upper 
regions,  condition  of  the  inner  and  deeper  parts  of  the 
earth,  their  heat,  a  falling  star  or  aerolite  heated,  a 
volcano  and  the  volcanic  lightning,  smoke  in  a  chimney 
perhaps  goes  out  electrified. 

4  15,811.  What  a  multitude  of  events  and  changes  in 
the  atmosphere  would  be  elucidated  by  such  actions. 
I  think  we  have  been  dull  or  blind  not  to  have  sus- 
pected some  such  results. 

4 15,814.  If  anything  results  then  we  shall  have 

4 15,815.  An  entirely  new  mode  of  the  excitement  of 
either  heat  or  electricity. 

4 15,816.  An  entirely  new  relation  of  natural  forces. 

4 15,817.  An  analysis  of  gravitation  force. 

4 15,818.  A  justification  of  the  conservation  of  force.' 
On  March  4,  he  gets  his  thoughts  more  closely  to 

the  experiments  he  intends  to  make,  and  on  the  10th 
he  begins  his  experiments,  and  continues  them  on  the 
llth ;  on  the  12th  he  was  at  the  clock-tower  of  the 
Houses  of  Parliament.  '  It  will  be  excellent  for  my 
purpose,'  he  says.  He  continued  his  experiments  at 
the  staircase  of  the  Eoyal  Institution  on  the  14th,  15th, 
16th,  17th,  18th,  19th,  21st,  22nd,  23rd  and  24th.  On 
the  26th  he  went  to  the  shot-tower  and  found  that  the 
men  do  not  work  on  Saturday  afternoon ;  so  on  April  1 1 


THE    DECLINE   AND    END   OP   HIS   LIFE.  411 

he  goes  for  further  data  for  making  experiments.     He    _JJ^9- 
makes  this  note  : —  JET.QI-GS. 

4 15,915.  It  would  be  strange  if  a  body  should  heat 
as  gravitation  increases  by  nearness  of  distance.  We 
conceive  of  heat  as  a  positive  force,  and  of  gravitation 
as  a  positive  force,  and  then,  instead  of  being  the 
inverse  of  each  other,  they  would  seem  to  grow  up 
together ;  or  else  heat  must  be  negative  to  gravity,  or 
the  converse  of  gravity,  and  gravity  must  be  in  the 
same  negative  or  converse  relation  to  heat.  This  is 
against  the  expectation  of  anything  from  the  heat 
experiment.  Nevertheless,  make  it,  for,  who  knows,  if 
gravitation  depend  upon  forces  external  to  the  particles, 
such  results  might  happen.  Try.'  On  the  12th,  15th, 
16th,  17th,  and  18th  of  April,  May  3rd,  5th,  9th, 
16th,  17th,  19th,  20th,  23rd,  26th,  27th,  28th,  30th, 
31st,  June  4th,  6th,  and  llth,  he  continues  at  work. 

He  says,  paragraph  '  15,985.  So  there  is  no  evi- 
dence, by  either  apparatus,  that  any  difference  due  to 
gravity,  varying  by  an  elevation  of  165  feet,  can  show 
a  relation  to  heat  by  causing  a  change  of  temperature.' 

On  July  9,  he  was  '  at  the  shot-tower,  to  try  for 
electricity.' 

A  pig  of  lead  was  charged,  then  sent  to  the  top  of 
the  tower,  165  feet,  then  lowered  and  examined ;  it 
still  gave  a  fair  charge  of  electricity,  though  the  charge 
had  in  some  degree  diminished.  Another  hundred- 
weight of  lead  was  added,  '  still  there  were  no  clear 
signs  of  any  effect.' 

4 15,997.  The  experiments  were  well  made,  but  the 
results  are  negative.' 

These  results  were  made  into  a  '  Note  on  the  Possible 
Eelation  of  Gravity  with  Electricity  or  Heat,'  dated 


412  LIFE  OF   FARADAY. 

1859.     April   16,    I860.     This   was   received  by  the  Eoyal 

^T.67-68.  Society  on  June  7,  but  the  opinion  of  Professor  Stokes 

was    '  against   sending  it  in  for  the  "  Transactions," ' 

because  it  contained  only  negative   results.      It  was 

consequently  withdrawn,  and  never  was  published. 

It  begins  thus  :  '  Under  the  full  conviction  that  the 
force  of  gravity  is  related  to  the  other  forms  of  natural 
power,  and  is  a  fit  subject  for  experiment,  I  en- 
deavoured on  a  former  occasion  ("Phil.  Trans.,"  1851, 
p.  1 ),  to  discover  its  relation  with  electricity,  but  un- 
successfully. Under  the  same  deep  conviction,  I  have 
recently  striven  to  procure  evidence  of  its  connection 
with  either  electricity  or  heat.  By  a  relation  of  forces 
I  do  not  mean  the  production  of  effects  associated  usually 
with  one  form  of  power,  by  the  exercise  of  another, 
unless  the  results  are  direct.  There  is  no  difficulty  in 
obtaining  either  electrical  or  heating  phenomena,  in- 
directly from  the  force  of  gravity ;  but  such  rela- 
tions as  those  between  electricity  and  magnetism, 
or  electricity  and  heat,  or  chemical  force  and  electricity, 
have  not  yet  been  obtained  as  respects  gravity  and 
other  forces ;  and  though  I  have  again  failed,  I  do  not 
think  either  the  trials  or  the  views  which  led  to  them 
are  without  interest.  The  former  are  not  more  than 
negative,  and  as  such  give  no  proof  that  the  latter  are 
inconsistent,  or  in  a  wrong  direction.  It  might,  in- 
deed, have  been  anticipated,  from  the  very  views  I 
entertain,  that  we  could  hardly  hope  to  lay  hold  by 
experiment  of  such  an  amount  of  gravitating  force  as 
would  yield  appreciable  evidence  of  electric  or  heat 
force  ;  but  if  we  were  to  stop  the  first  institution  of 
experiment  in  any  new  direction,  for  such  a  reason, 
what  progress — or,  more,  what  discovery — could  we 


THE    DECLINE   AND   END    OF   HIS    LIFE.  413 

hope  to  make  by  its  means  in  any  of  the  as  yet  un-     1859. 
discovered  paths  of  science  ?  JET&TGS. 

'  I  proceeded  to  make  experiments  by  raising  and 
lowering  masses  of  matter,  and  testing  their  states  at 
the  upper  and  lower  stations.' 

The  note  ends  :  '  Though  these  results  are  negative, 
and  though  the  truth  of  nature  may  be  that  there  is  no 
such  relation  as  that  I  have  been  looking  for,  yet  I 
cannot  accept  them  as  conclusive  ;  and  if  the  opportunity 
should  arise  of  making  the  experiments  with  such 
electrometers  as  Dellmann's  or  Thomson's,  I  should 
ask  Mr.  Walker  again  to  let  me  repeat  the  electrical' 
experiments  in  his  (shot)  tower.' 

The  most  important  work  that  was  done  in  1859 
was  for  the  Trinity  House.  Eleven  reports  were  made, 
and  one  was  sent  to  the  Board  of  Trade.  The  chief 
subject  was  on  the  use  of  the  electric  light  at  the  South 
Foreland. 

In  1857,  Faraday  said  at  the  end  of  a  report  on 
Professor  Holmes's  magneto-electric  light :  '  I  hope  a 
situation  may  be  selected  where  the  magneto-electric 
lamp  can  be  safely  and  effectually  tried  for  a  time, 
and  under  circumstances  during  which  all  the  liabilities 
may  be  thoroughly  eliminated.  The  light  is  so  intense, 
so  abundant,  so  concentrated  and  focal,  so  free  from 
under-shadow  (caused  in  the  common  lamp  by  the 
burner),  so  free  from  flickering,  that  one  cannot  but 
desire  it  should  succeed.  But  it  would  require  very 
careful  arid  progressive  introduction,  men  with  pecu- 
liar knowledge  and  skill  to  attend  it,  and  the  means  of 
instantly  substituting  one  lamp  for  another  in  case  of 
accident.  The  common  lamp  is  so  simple  both  in 


414  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1859.  principle  and  practice,  that  its  liability  to  failure  is 
jEx.67-68.  very  small.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  magneto- 
electric  lamp  involves  a  great  many  circumstances 
tending  to  make  its  application  more  refined  and  deli- 
cate, but  I  would  fain  hope  that  none  of  them  will 
prove  a  barrier  to  its  introduction.  Nevertheless,  it 
must  pass  into  practice  only  through  the  ordeal  of  a 
full,  searching,  and  prolonged  trial.' 

On  December  8,  1858,  the  light  was  exhibited  at 
the  Upper  South  Foreland  lighthouse.  Faraday  exa- 
mined it  on  shore,  and  on  the  sea,  and  reported  to  the 
Trinity  House.  In  consequence,  Professor  Holmes  re- 
arranged his  apparatus,  and  on  March  28,  1859,  the 
exhibition  was  resumed.  On  April  20  and  21  it  was 
again  examined  by  him  from  sea  and  land.  '  At  sea, 
the  upper  light  was  always  superior  to  the  lower,  of 
a  white  colour,  and  very  steady,  and  not  changing  ex- 
cept near  the  astragals  and  bars.  It  has  often  been 
described  as  a  flickering  light,  but  it  was  not  so  to- 
night. As  we  went  in  towards  the  lights  the  electric 
light  rose  up  beautifully  ;  and  certainly  as  a  light  is 
unexceptionable,  and  superior  much  to  the  central 
lamp.  The  increase  of  light  was  very  steady,  and  as 
we  went  up  towards  the  lighthouse,  i.e.  to  Dover,  the 
effect  was  in  every  respect  highly  satisfactory.'  The 
following  night  he  examined  the  light  on  shore.  c  The 
light  from  within  was  beautiful,  but  seemed  wonderfully 
small.  It  is  a  perfect  electric  light.'  '  The  light  was 
beautifully  steady  and  bright,  with  no  signs  of  varia- 
tion. The  appearance  was  such  as  to  give  confidence 
to  the  mind.  No  doubt  about  its  continuance.  As  a 
light,  it  is  unexceptionable ;  as  a  magneto-electric 
light,  wonderful ;  and  seems  to  have  all  the  adjustments 


THE   DECLINE  AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  415 

of  quality,  and  more  than  can  be  applied  to  a  voltaic      1859. 
electric  light  or  a  Kuhmkorff.'  ^x.67-68. 

All  the  reports  sent  in  from  the  surrounding  light- 
houses, floating  lights,  and  pilot  vessels,  confirmed  the 
superiority  of  the  upper  light  above  the  lower  ;  and  on 
April  29,  Faraday  reported  '  that  Professor  Holmes  has 
practically  established  the  fitness  and  sufficiency  of  the 
magneto-electric  light  for  lighthouse  purposes,  so  far 
as  its  nature  and  management  are  concerned.  The 
light  produced  is  powerful  beyond  any  other  that  I 
have  yet  seen  so  applied,  and  in  principle  may  be 
accumulated  to  any  degree.  Its  regularity  in  the 
lantern  is  great,  its  management  easy,  and  its  care 
there  may  be  confided  to  attentive  keepers  of  the  ordi- 
nary degree  of  intellect  and  knowledge. 

4  There  are  many  other  considerations  beyond  this 
establishment  of  the  fitness  of  the  light  in  principle 
and  management  for  lighthouse  purposes,  regarding  its 
introduction  into  lighthouses  generally,  on  which  I 
should  hesitate  to  speak  before  those  who  are  far  more 
competent  to  judge  of  these  matters  than  I  am,  were  it 
not  for  the  encouragement  which  the  brethren  of  the 
Trinity  House  give  me,  and  especially  as  regards  this 
light.' 

And  then  he  points  out  some  facts  which  are 
against,  and  others  in  favour  of  this  light. 

'Against  it  is  its  comparative  complexity,  and  its 
outfit  and  current  expenditure.  In  favour  of  it  is  the 
increase  of  light,  and  the  advancement  of  lighthouses 
in  power.'  In  conclusion,  he  says  :  '  I  must  bear  my 
testimony  to  the  perfect  openness,  and  candour,  and 
honour  of  Professor  Holmes.  He  has  answered  every 
question,  concealed  no  weak  point,  explained  every 


416  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1859.  applied  principle,  given  every  reason  for  a  change  either 
^Er.67-68.  in  this  or  that  direction,  during  several  periods  of 
close  questioning,  in  a  manner  that  was  very  agreeable 
to  me,  whose  duty  it  was  to  search  for  real  faults  and 
possible  objections,  in  respect  both  of  the  present  time 
a 'id  the  future.' 

Early  in  the  following  year,  when  the  trial  time  was 
nearly  ended,  Faraday  again  went  to  Dover,  but  the 
snow  was  so  deep  in  drifts  and  cuttings,  that  he  could 
not  get  to  the  lighthouse.  He  tried  again  the  next 
week,  and  with  difficulty  he  succeeded. 

On  the  23th  he  wrote  to  the  Trinity  House,  after 
examining  the  reports  : — 

FARADAY  TO  THE   SECRETARY. 

4  Sir, — The  appointed  time  during  which  the  mag- 
neto-electric light  was  to  be  placed  under  practical  trial 
at  the  South  Foreland  having  come  to  an  end,  I  may  be 
allowed  to  say  that  it  has  so  far  justified  itself  in  its  results 
as  to  make  me  hope  that  the  Trinity  House  will  see  fit 
to  authorise  its  application,  either  there  or  somewhere 
else,  for  a  further  and  a  longer  period.  The  light  has 
proved  to  be  practicable  and  manageable,  and  has 
supplied  the  means  of  putting  into  a  lighthouse  lantern, 
for  six  months  or  more,  a  source  of  illumination  far 
surpassing  in  intensity  and  effect  any  other  previously 
so  employed.  I  do  not  know  at  what  cost  this  result 
has  been  obtained,  but  unless  this  is  very  great  indeed, 
I  am  of  opinion  that  a  large  increase  upon  the  expense 
of  the  old  method  (estimated  upon  the  quantity  of 
light  obtained),  ought  to  be  permitted  in  the  first 


THE   DECLINE    AND    END    OF   HIS   LIFE.  417 

establishment  of  a  mode  of  illumination  which  appa-      1859. 
rently  promises  many  improvements  during  its  farther  ijx.eY-M. 
development. 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

For  the  Trinity  House  also  he  reported  this  year  on 
Way's  mercurial  electric  light ;  the  one  advantage 
it  had  was  that  the  place  of  the  light  was  unchange- 
able. 

For  the  Institution,  after  Easter,  he  gave  a  course  of 
six  lectures  on  the  various  forces  of  matter,  and  he 
took  two  Friday  evening  discourses.  For  the  third 
time,  he  chose  Schonbein's  ozone  and  antozone  as  one 
subject;  his  other  discourse  was  on  phosphorescence 
and  fluorescence.  He  begins  his  notes  of  this  last  lecture 
thus  :  '  Nothing  is  more  fitted  to  enlarge  the  views  of 
a  philosopher,  and  liberate  him  from  preconceptions, 
than  the  study  of  what  may  appear  to  be  the  anomalous 
habitudes  of  a  single  agent;  and  no  agent  is  more 
striking  in  that  respect  than  light.  New  researches, 
therefore,  are  good.' 

At  Christmas  he  gave  the  Juvenile  Lectures  on  the 
forces  of  matter. 

This  year  he  was  asked,  by  Mr.  W.  Smith,  to  publish 
the  course  of  Juvenile  Lectures  on  the  metallic  pro- 
perties. 

He  replied  : — 

'  Royal  Institution  :  January  3,  1859. 

'  Dear  Sir, — Many  thanks  to  both  you  and  Mr.  Bent- 
ley.  Mr.  Murray  made  me  an  unlimited  offer  like  that 
of  Mr.  Bentley's  many  years  ago,  but  for  the  reasons  I 
am  about  to  give  you  I  had  to  refuse  his  kindness. 
He  proposed  to  take  them  by  short-hand,  and  so  save 

VOL.  II.  E  E 


418  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1859.  me  trouble,  but  I  knew  that  would  be  a  thorough 
ji^67-68.  failure  ;  even  if  I  cared  to  give  time  to  the  revision  of 
the  MS.,  still  the  lectures  without  the  experiments  and 
the  vivacity  of  speaking  would  fall  far  behind  those  in 
the  lecture-room  as  to  effect.  And  then  I  do  not  desire 
to  give  time  to  them,  for  money  is  no  temptation  to  me. 
In  fact,  I  have  always  loved  science  more  than  money ; 
and  because  my  occupation  is  almost  entirely  personal, 
I  cannot  afford  to  get  rich. 

'  Again  thanking  you  and  Mr.  Bentley,  I  remain, 
very  truly  yours, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 


He  was  one  of  a  Commission  appointed  to  consider 
the  subject  of  lighting  public  galleries  by  gas  ;  and  he 
reported  favourably  on  the  experimental  attempt  at  the 
Sheepshanks  Gallery. 

Among  the  letters  of  this  year  one  from  Mrs.  Somer- 
ville  shows  her  faith  in  his  powers  of  research  ;  one  to 
the  Eev.  John  Barlow  is  on  the  new  degrees  in  science 
at  the  University  of  London ;  and  two  letters  to  relations 
give  his  thoughts  on  religious  questions — thoughts 
which,  though  often  in.  his  mind,  were  very  rarely  to 
be  seen  in  his  writing,  or  to  be  heard  in  his  ordinary 
conversation. 

MRS.   SOMERVILLE   TO   FARADAY. 

*  Florence  :  February  1,  1859. 

*  My  dear  Dr.  Faraday, — I  cannot  tell  you  how  much 
I  have  been  delighted  and  gratified  by  your  letter,  and 
by  your  kind  acceptance  of  my  book.  I  should  not 
have  dared  to  send  it  to  you  from  any  merit  it  may 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  419 

have  in  itself,  but  I  have  no  other  way  of  offering  the      1859. 
tribute  of  my  most  sincere  and  heartfelt  admiration  of  ^.T.GT^S. 
your   transcendent  discoveries  of  the   laws  and  deep 
mysteries  of  nature. 

'  I  fear  from  what  you  say  that  I  may  have  expressed 
myself  ambiguously  with  regard  to  your  views  of  gravi- 
tation. I  certainly  did  not  mean  to  do  so,  for,  on  the  con- 
trary, they  convey  to  my  mind  the  most  perfect  convic- 
tion, and  I  only  hope  you  may  live  to  complete  what 
Newton  began,  by  the  discovery  of  that  one  comprehen- 
sive power  of  which  gravity  and  all  the  correlative  and 
convertible  forces  are  but  parts.  Meanwhile,  I  wish 
you  success  in  your  research  for  time  in  magnetism, 
which  there  can  be  no  doubt  you  will  accomplish, 
having  already  so  beautifully  connected  magnetism 
with  light,  whose  velocity  is  known. 

I  fear  you  tax  your  health  too  severely ;  subjects  so 
abstruse  as  you  are  accustomed  to  consider  must  fatigue 
even  your  mind,  which  makes  occasional  repose  neces- 
sary ;  so  I  wish  you  would  come  here  and  amuse  your- 
self for  a  little ;  we  should  be  indeed  delighted  to  see 
you,  and  there  are  many  things  that  would  interest  you. 

'  Many  thanks  for  the  volume  of  your  papers  and 
researches,  which  you  intend  to  send  to  me ;  it  will  be 
a  very  precious  gift.  Mr.  Somerville  and  my  daughters 
desire  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  you,  aud  be  assured 
that  I  am  ever,  with  sincere  friendship,  yours, 

'MARY  SOMERVILLE.' 

Professor  John  Phillips,  Museum  House,  Oxford, 
asked  him  to  subscribe  to  a  testimonial  to  Hum- 
boldt. 


E    E   2 


420  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1859. 

^Ex.  68. 

FAEADAY  TO    PROFESSOR   JOHN   PHILLIPS. 

'Royal  Institution,  London,  w. :  October  21,  1859. 

'  My  dear  Phillips, — I  have  received  your  letter  of 
September  15.  I  have  several  times  considered  very 
carefully  the  matter  it  refers  to,  namely,  the  Humboldt 
testimonial,  and  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  think  that  it 
is  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  Humboldt's  memory 
cannot,  according  to  my  view,  be  honoured  by  any  act 
of  the  kind.  A  feeling  of  the  highest  and  finest 
character  belongs  to  the  name,  and  in  my  opinion  that 
feeling  is  lowered  by  the  association  of  the  name  with 
anything  partaking  of  the  character  of  a  testimonial. 
No  such  act  can  in  any  shape  do  honour  to  Humboldt's 
memory,  for  that  stands  alone  in  its  glory.  On  the 
contrary,  the  system  has  been  abused  so  frequently  of 
late,  that  I  for  one  feel  Humboldt's  name  would  be  hurt 
by  association  in  any  way  with  it. 

*  As  to  the  aid  that  may  come  to  science  by  the 
means  proposed,  I  do  not  think  that  any  who  may  be 
willing  to  yield  it  would  not  do  so  as  freely  for  science's 
own  sake  as  for  the  sake  of  an  oblique  and  posthumous 
association  with  the  name  of  Humboldt.  Indeed,  I 
cannot  bring  my  mind  to  the  conclusion  that  Humboldt 
himself  would,  if  he  were  in  the  flesh,  approve  of  such  a 
motive  and  manifestation. 

1  Nevertheless,  doubting  my  own  judgment,  and  seeing 
how  many  appear  to  be  in  favour  of  the  proceeding,  of 
whose  judgment  and  feeling  I  cannot  but  think  most 
highly,  I  beg  to  fill  up  the  paper  you  have  sent  me  for 
the  sum  of  5/.,  and  enclose  it  in  this  letter.  I  hope 


LETTERS    DURING   THE   PERIOD    OP   HIS   DECLINE.  421 

you  will  bear  with  these  remarks.     I  should  not  have 
felt  true  to  you  and  myself  if  I  had  not  made  them. 
'  Ever,  my  dear  Phillips,  most  truly  yours, 

4M.  FARADAY.' 

To  Dr.  Tyndall,  who  asked  whether  he  should  refuse 
the  Professorship  of  Physics  at  Edinburgh,  he  writes : — 

FARADAY   TO   DR.    TYNDALL. 

'  Edinburgh  :  November  15,  1859. 

4  My  dear  Tyndall, — I  really  cannot  advise  you  ;  I 
can  only  tell  you  what  I  should  do,  and  what  I  did  do 
under  like  circumstances.  When  the  Chair  of  Chemistry 
was  offered  me,  under  the  strongest  private  assurances 
of  the  authorities,  I  declined  it.  It  was  all  a  matter  of 
feeling  with  me,  but  the  feeling  was,  that  if  I  had  a 
sufficient  moderate  income  in  London,  nothing  would 
make  me  change  London  for  Edinburgh.  Others 
might  reverse  the  terms,  and  say  nothing  should  bring 
them  to  London,  so  that  really  I  have  no  advice  to  give, 
for  I  suppose  I  may  now  assume  that  you  have  a 
competency  in  London,  and  that  all  beyond  will 
come  under  the  points  of  honour,  prosperity,  and 
pleasure. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Tyndall,  truly  yours, 

*  M;  FARADAY.' 

To  the  Eev.  John  Barlow  he  writes  on  August  10, 
from  Hampton  Court : — 

FARADAY  TO  REV.  JOHN  BARLOW. 

'  As  I  have  been  out  here  with  only  runs  into  town, 
I  really  know  very  little  of  what  is  going  on  there,  and 


422  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1859.  what  I  learn  I  forget.  The  Senate  of  the  University 
ji^TesT  accepted  and  approved  of  the  report  of  the  Committee 
for  Scientific  Degrees ; 1  so  that  that  will  go  forward 
(if  the  Government  approve),  and  will  come  into  work 
next  year.  It  seems  to  give  much  satisfaction  to  all 
who  have  seen  it,  though  the  subject  is  beset  with 
difficulties  ;  for  when  the  depth  and  breadth  of  science 
came  to  be  considered,  and  an  estimate  was  made  of 
how  much  a  man  ought  to  know  to  obtain  a  right  to  a 
degree  in  it,  the  amount  in  words  seemed  to  be  so 
enormous  as  to  make  me  hesitate  in  demanding  it  from 
the  student ;  and  though  in  the  D.S.  one  could  divide 
the  matter  and  claim  eminence  in  one  branch  of  science, 
rather  than  good  general  knowledge  in  all,  still  in  the 
B.S.,  which  is  a  progressive  degree,  a  more  extended 
though  a  more  superficial  acquaintance  seemed  to  be 
required.  In  fact,  the  matter  is  so  new,  and  there  is  so 
little  that  can  serve  as  previous  experience  in  the 
founding  and  arranging  these  degrees,  that  one  must 
leave  the  whole  endeavour  to  shape  itself  as  the  practice 
and  experience  accumulates.' 

In  the  winter,  Professor  Schonbein's  daughter  died 
in  London.  Faraday  refers  to  this  in  a  letter  to  his 
friend. 

FARADAY  TO    PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  April  25,  1859. 

1  My  dear  Schonbein, — I  am  glad  you  went  out,  for 
though  all  things  would  be  distasteful  to  you,  still 
they  work  out  the  transition  back  again  from  sudden 
and  deep  grief  to  a  more  collected,  healthy,  and  neces- 

1  Faraday,  Mr.  Hopkins,  and  Dr.  Carpenter  drew  up  the  first  defined 
scheme  for  the  examinations. 


LETTERS    DURING    THE   PERIOD    OF   HIS   DECLINE.  423 

sary  state  of  mind.     For  the  same  reason  I  am  very     1859. 
glad  that  Mrs.  Schonbein  has  left  home  for  a  little  while,  jE-r.67-68, 
and  trust  that  it  may  calm  her  spirits  and  do  her  good. 
It  is  impossible  for  me  to  write  to  you,  or  do  any- 
thing connected  with  you,  without  thoughts  of  your 
dear  daughter  entering  in. 

'  I  gave  a  Friday  evening  on  ozone  and  antozone,  for 
which  only  a  few  weeks  before  I  had  given  tickets  at 
her  request  to  some  friends  of  hers,  but  I  could  not 
and  cannot  talk  to  you  about  it.  I  did  my  best, 
though  with  thoughts  often  pressing  in ;  still  let  me 
thank  you  for  what  you  had  before  the  sad  event  done 
to  help  me. 

'My  wife. joins  me  in  kindest  remembrances  and 
thoughts ;  and  so,  too,  does  my  niece,  for  though  she 
was  not  much  known  to  you,  yet  she  was  to  Miss 
Schonbein.  Extend  these  sympathising  thoughts  to  the 
children  who  remain  to  comfort  you. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbein,  yours, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   HIS   NIECE    MRS.    DEACON. 

'  The  Green,  Hampton  Court,  s.w  :  August  12,  1859. 

'My  dear  C., — I  am  a  little  tired,  dull,  and 
unable  to  work,  or  even  to  read ;  so  I  write  to  you.  I 
have  your  letter  before  me,  and  so  that  is  a  moving 
cause  ;  and  it  is  rather  grave,  and  that  renders  the  cause 
more  effectual.  I  never  heard  of  the  saying  that  sepa- 
ration is  the  brother  of  death ;  I  think  that  it  does 
death  an  injustice,  at  least  in  the  mind  of  the  Christian  ; 
separation  simply  implies  no  reunion  ;  death  has  to  the 
Christian  everything  hoped  for,  contained  in  the  idea  of 


424  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1859.  reunion.  I  cannot  think  that  death  has  to  the  Christian 
2ET.67-68.  anything  in  it  that  should  make  it  a  rare,  or  other  than 
a  constant,  thought ;  out  of  the  view  of  death  comes  the 
view  of  the  life  beyond  the  grave,  as  out  of  the  view 
of  sin  (that  true  and  real  view  which  the  Holy  Spirit 
alone  can  give  to  a  man)  comes  the  glorious  hope  ;  with- 
out the  conviction  of  sin  there  is  no  ground  of  hope  to 
the  Christian.  As  far  as  he  is  permitted  for  the  trial  of 
his  faith  to  forget  the  conviction  of  sin,  he  forgets  his 
hope,  he  forgets  the  need  of  Him  who  became  sin,  or  a 
sin-offering,  for  His  people,  and  overcame  death  by 
dying.  And  though  death  be  repugnant  to  the  flesh, 
yet  where  the  Spirit  is  given,  to  die  is  gain.  What  a 
wonderful  transition  it  is  !  for,  as  the  apostle  says,  even 
whilst  having  the  first-fruits  of  the  Spirit,  the  people  of 
God  groan  within  themselves, "  waiting  for  the  adoption, 
to  wit,  the  redemption  of  the  body."  Elsewhere  he 
says,  that  whilst  in  "  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle 
we  groan  earnestly,  desiring  to  be  clothed  upon  with 
our  house  which  is  from  heaven." 

'  It  is  permitted  to  the  Christian  to  think  of  death ; 
he  is  even  represented  as  praying  that  God  would 
teach  him  to  number  his  days.  Words  are  given  to 
him,  "  0  grave,  where  is  thy  sting?  0  death,  where  is 
thy  victory  ?  "  and  the  answer  is  given  him,  "  Thanks  be 
to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  And  though  the  thought  of  death  brings 
the  thought  of  judgment,  which  is  far  above  all  the 
trouble  that  arises  from  the  breaking  of  mere  earthly 
ties,  it  also  brings  to  the  Christian  the  thought  of  Him 
who  died,  was  judged,  and  who  rose  again  for  the 
justification  of  those  who  believe  in  Him.  Though  the 
fear  of  death  be  a  great  thought,  the  hope  of  eternal 


LETTERS    DURING    THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS    DECLINE.  425 

life  is  a  far  greater.  Much  more  is  the  phrase  1859. 
the  apostle  uses  in  such  comparisons.  Though  sin 
hath  reigned  unto  death,  much  more  is  the  hope  of 
eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ.  Though  we  may 
well  fear  for  ourselves  and  our  faith,  much  more  may 
we  trust  in  Him  who  is  faithful ;  and  though  we  have 
the  treasure  in  earthen  vessels,  and  so  are  surrounded 
by  the  infirmities  of  the  flesh  with  all  the  accompany- 
ing hesitation  —  temptations  and  the  attacks  of  the 
adversary — yet  it  is  that  the  excellency  of  the  power 
of  God  may  be  with  us. 

'  What  a  long,  grave  wording  I  have  given  you ;  but 
I  do  not  think  you  will  be  angry  with  me.  It  cannot 
make  you  sad,  the  troubles  are  but  for  a  moment ;  there 
is  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory  for 
them  who,  through  God's  power,  look  not  at  the  things 
which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen. 
For  we  are  utterly  insufficient  for  these  tilings,  but  the 
sufficiency  is  of  God,  and  that  makes  it  fit  for  His 
people — His  strength  perfect  in  their  weakness. 

'  You  see  I  chat  now  and  then  with  you  as  if  my 
thoughts  were  running  openly  before  us  on  the  paper, 
and  so  it  is.  My  worldly  faculties  are  slipping  away 
day  by  day.  Happy  is  it  for  all  of  us  that  the  true  good 
lies  not  in  them.  As  they  ebb,  may  they  leave  us  as 
little  children  trusting  in  the  Father  of  mercies  and 
accepting  His  unspeakable  gift. 

'  I  must  conclude,  for  I  cannot  otherwise  get  out  of 
this  strain ;  but  not  without  love  to  Constance,  and 
kindest  remembrances  to  Mr.  Deacon. 

'  Ever,  your  affectionate  uncle, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


426  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1859.         He  was  asked  to  write  his  opinion  on  the  Eevivals,  &c. 

^ST.67-68. 

1  The  Eevivals,  &c.,  cannot  trouble  the  Christian  who 
is  taught  of  God  (by  His  Word  and  the  Holy  Spirit)  to 
trust  in  the  promise  of  salvation  through  the  work  of 
Jesus  Christ.  He  finds  his  guide  in  the  Word  of  God, 
and  commits  the  keeping  of  his  soul  into  the  hands  of 
God.  He  looks  for  no  assurance  beyond  what  the  Word 
can  give  him,  and  if  his  mind  is  troubled  by  the  cares 
and  fears  which  may  assail  him,  he  can  go  nowhere 
but  in  prayer  to  the  throne  of  grace  and  to  Scripture. 
No  outward  manifestation,  as  of  a  revival,  &c.,  can  give 
either  instruction  or  assurance  to  him,  nor  can  any  out- 
ward opposition  or  trouble  diminish  his  confidence  in 
"  Christ  crucified,  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  to 
the  Greeks  foolishness ;  but  to  them  who  are  called,  Christ 
the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God."  If  his 
attention  is  called  to  the  revivals,  it  cannot  be  that  he 
should  feel  instruction  there  or  assurance  there,  other 
than  what  he  finds  in  the  Scriptures,  without  reference 
to  them ;  and  it  seems  to  me  that  any  power  they  may 
have  over  his  mind  other  than  the  Scripture  has,  must 
be  delusion  and  a  snare. 

'  That  man  in  his  natural  state  is  greatly  influenced  by 
his  fellow-creatures  and  the  forms  of  emotion  which  are 
amongst  them,  is  doubtless  true,  even  when  it  concerns 
what  he  considers  his  eternal  welfare.  How  else  would 
the  wonderfully  varied  and  superstitious  forms  of  belief 
have  obtained  in  the  world?  What  carries  the  Mormons 
into  the  desert,  surrounded  by  trouble  and  the  enmity  of 
those  around  them  ?  What  sustains  a  spiritual  domi- 
nion like  the  Papacy,  aided  by  the  nations  around  it,  to 
proclaim  the  name  of  Christ  whilst  it  contradicts  His 


LETTERS   DURING    THE    PERIOD    OF    HIS    DECLINE.  427 

Word — refuses  it  (the  record  of  the  Spirit)  to  the  people  1859. 
— and  crushes  out  with  all  intolerance  the  simple  ^T.ey-ea. 
obedience  of  the  truth  ?  Man's  natural  niind  is  a  very 
unstable  thing,  and  most  credulous,  and  the  imagination 
often  rules  it  when  reason  is  thought  to  be  there.  Mes- 
merism has  great  power  over  it ;  so  has  poetry ;  so  has 
music ;  so  has  the  united  voice  of  the  multitude ;  so 
have  many  other  things  :  but  these  things  are,  so  to  say, 
indifferent  as  respects  the  character  of  the  object  they 
may  be  used  to  sustain,  and  are  just  as  powerful  in 
favour  of  a  bad  cause  as  a  good  one.  Among  the  con- 
tradictory and  gross  systems  of  religion,  or  the  nume- 
rous and  opposed  systems  of  political  government, 
any  one  of  them  may  be  sustained  by  the  use  of  such 
agencies  as  these. 

'  The  Christian  religion  is  a  revelation.  The  natural 
man  cannot  know  it.  He,  not  knowing  it,  is  liable  in 
respect  of  religion  to  all  the  influences  before  mentioned, 
finds  in  them  snares  and  delusions,  and  either  becomes 
an  infidel  or  is  subject  to  every  wind  of  doctrine.  The 
Christian  religion  is  a  revelation,  and  that  revelation  is 
in  the  Word  of  God.  According  to  the  promise  of  God, 
that  Word  is  sent  into  all  the  world.  Every  call  and 
every  promise  is  made  freely  to  every  man  to  whom 
that  Word  cometh.  No  revival  and  no  temporal  teach- 
ing comes  between  it  and  him.  He  who  is  taught  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  needs  no  crowd  and  no  revival  to  teach 
him ;  if  he  stand  alone  he  is  fully  taught,  for  the 
Comforter  (the  Spirit)  taketh  of  the  things  of  Christ  and 
showeth  them  to  His  people.  And  if  in  the  mercy  of 
God  it  should  please  Him  that  one  seeing  the  commotion 
about  him  should  be  led  to  examine  his  ways,  it  will 
only  be  in  the  Word  of  the  testimony,  the  Word  of  God, 


428  LIFE    OF    FARADAY. 

1860.     that  he  will  find  the  revelation  of  the  new  and  living 
;ET.68-69.  way  by  which  he  may  rejoice  in  hope  of  entering  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ.' 

The  work  in  1860  was  not  important ;  the  experi- 
ments in  the  laboratory  were  made  chiefly  in  February, 
and  were  sent  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  and  published  in 
the  c  Proceedings '  as  a  paper  on  regelation. 

For  the  Institution  he  gave  lectures  on  two  Friday 
evenings ;  one  on  lighthouse  illumination,  the  other  on 
the  electric  silk-loom. 

He  said :  '  There  is  no  part  of  my  life  which  gives 
me  more  delight  than  my  connection  with  the  Trinity 
House.  The  occupation  of  nations  joined  together  to 
guide  the  mariner  over  the  sea,  to  all  a  point  of  great 
interest,  is  infinitely  more  so  to  those  who  are  concerned 
in  the  operations  which  they  carry  into  effect ;  and  it 
certainly  has  astonished  me,  since  I  have  been  connected 
with  the  Trinity  House,  to  see  how  beautifully  and  how 
wonderfully  shines  forth  among  nations  at  large  the 
desire  to  do  good. 

4 1  will  not  tell  you  that  the  problem  of  employing  the 
magneto-electric  spark  for  lighthouse  illumination  is 
quite  solved  yet,  although  I  desire  it  should  be  esta- 
blished most  earnestly,  for  I  regard  this  magnetic  spark 
as  one  of  my  own  offspring.  The  thing  is  not  yet 
decidedly  accomplished,  and  what  the  considerations  of 
expense  and  other  matters  may  be,  I  cannot  tell.  I  am 
only  here  to  tell  you  as  a  philosopher  how  far  the  re- 
sults have  been  carried,  but  I  do  hope  that  the  authori- 
ties will  find  it  a  proper  thing  to  carry  out  in  full.  If 
it  cannot  be  introduced  at  all  the  lighthouses,  if  it  can 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END    OF   HIS   LIFE.  429 

only  be  used  at  one,  why,  really  it  will  be  an  honour  to      1860. 
the  nation  which  can  originate  such  an  improvement  as  JET.GS  -69. 
this,  one  which  must  of  necessity  be  followed  by  other 
nations. 

'  You  may  ask  what  is  the  use  of  this  bright  light. 

*  This  intense  light  has  therefore  that  power,  which 
we  can  take  advantage  of,  of  bearing  a  great  deal  of 
obstruction  before  it  is  entirely  obscured  by  fogs  or 
otherwise.' 

He  ended  thus  : — 

4  Taking  care  that  we  do  not  lead  our  authorities  into 
error  by  the  advice  given,  we  hope  that  we  shall  soon 
be  able  to  recommend  the  Trinity  House,  from  what  has 
passed,  to  establish  either  one  or  more  good  electric 
lights  in  this  country.'  The  Trinity  House  decided  to 
continue  the  trial  of  the  electric  light.  Dungeness  was 
chosen,  although,  from  its  higher  position,  Faraday 
recommended  the  Start  Point. 

At  Christmas  he  gave  his  last  course  of  Juvenile 
Lectures  on  the  chemical  history  of  a  candle. 

These  Juvenile  Lectures  were  begun  at  the  Institu- 
tion in  1825,  and  Faraday  gave  his  first  course  in  1827 
on  chemistry.  Altogether,  he  lectured  at  Christmas 
for  the  Institution  nineteen  years.  The  last  ten  years 
these  lectures  were  given  yearly  by  him  without  any 
interruption ;  usually  they  were  on  electricity  or  on 
chemistry.  Twice  he  gave  the  chemical  history  of  a 
candle,  and  three  times  he  took  as  his  subject  the 
forces  of  matter. 

With  Sir  Eoderick  Murchison,  he  was  requested  by 
Mr.  W.  Cowper  to  report  upon  the  means  of  preserving 


430  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1860.  the  stonework  of  the  New  Palace  of  Westminster.  He 
jEr.68-69.  was  *  to  form  some  kind  of  judgment  respecting  the 
preservation  of  the  stonework.'  '  I  was  to  be  guided  by 
the  appearance  and  state  of  the  prepared  specimens,  and 
these  alone.'  Three  processes  were  under  consideration, 
those  of  Mr.  Szerelmey,  Mr.  Ransome,  and  Mr.  Daines. 
Mr.  Daines  called  on  him  at  the  Royal  Institution. 
Faraday  writes :  '  Mistook  him  for  another  person,  and 
saw  him  for  a  few  moments.  Refused  to  discuss  with 
him.  He  threatened  legal  proceedings.  Sent  him  out, 
and  all  his  papers.'  Mr.  Ransome  began  a  written  dis- 
cussion with  him,  which  Faraday  ended  by  saying : 
*  I  have  no  intention  of  altering  my  position  in  respect 
of  the  First  Commissioner  of  Works,  or  transferring  my 
correspondence  from  him  to  any  other  person.'  Mr. 
Cowper  wanted  him  to  analyse  Mr.  Szerelmey's  prepa- 
ration. He  answered  :  '  It  is  especially  proper  that  I 
should  not  do  so,  for  I  was  bound  at  first  to  give  an 
opinion  without  knowing  the  composition,  and  I  would 
rather  not  alter  my  opinion  now.  If  you  consider  an 
analysis  necessary  for  your  object,  I  conclude  that  some 
of  the  professional  men  attached  to  the  Government  at 
the  Jermyn  Street  Museum,  Woolwich,  or  elsewhere,  will 
be  the  proper  persons  to  undertake  it.  For  my  own 
part,  I  think  time  is  the  only  test  of  such  a  practical 
matter. 

*  I  have  lately  had  a  visit  and  a  threat  of  legal  pro- 
ceedings from  Mr.  Daines,  on  account  of  my  answers 
to  your  questions.  I  will  candidly  confess  that  such 
results  cool  in  some  degree  my  willingness  to  answer 
all  inquiries  made  of  me  by  the  governmental  boards. 
If  I  thought  that  such  a  case  were  likely  to  occur  again, 
I  would  make  all  my  letters  private,  to  prevent  like 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS    LIFE.  431 

results.     Whenever  you  give  me  the  pleasure  of  being      I860. 
any  way  useful  to  you  again,  I  hope  you  will  help  me     ^ET.  68. 
to  keep  clear  of  the  parties,  whose  object  is,  of  course, 
profit.' 

Mr.  Cowper  was  distressed  to  think  how  much  trouble 
and  annoyance  had  been  caused  to  Faraday  by  his 
kindness  in  undertaking  to  judge  of  the  indurating 
process,  and  ends  saying  he  '  will  not  ask  too  much  of 
him  again.' 

He  was  made  Foreign  Associate  of  the  Academy  of 
Sciences,  Pesth,  and  Honorary  Member  of  the  Philoso- 
phical Society  of  Glasgow. 

He  resumed  the  office  of  elder  in  his  church  in  the 
autumn,  and  after  holding  it  for  about  the  same  time 
as  he  did  before,  three  years  and  a  half,  he  finally 
resigned  it. 

At  Whitsuntide  he  was  at  Hampton  Court.  A  storm 
spent  some  of  its  violence  on  the  trees  in  Bushy  Park, 
and  the  words  in  which  he  describes  the  experiments 
which  nature  made  for  him  in  the  country,  are  a 
simple  sermon  on  the  vanity  of  life,  showing  how 
beauty  and  glory  may  suddenly  pass  away  and  serve 
only  for  the  momentary  amusement  of  the  thoughtless 
crowd. 

He  made  the  following  entry  in  his  niece's  journal :  - 

'  This  Whit  Monday  will  be  long  remembered  among 
Hampton  Court  holiday  folk.  The  wind  from  the  west 
was  very  strong,  so  as  to  blow  down  and  break  trees, 
displace  nests,  tear  off  the  mistletoe  from  the  limes,  and 
that  whilst  the  sports  were  going  on.  Sunshine  and 
rain  alternated,  but  the  rain  was  only  in  showers, 


432  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

I860,  though  some  of  these  were  heavy.  In  the  morning,  a 
^xTesT  tree  upon  the  right  at  the  entrance  of  Bushy  Park  was 
blown  up  by  the  roots,  but  clinging  at  the  trunk  on 
one  side,  it  swerved  in  its  fall,  and  coming  against 
another  tree,  sheared  off  all  its  large  branches  on  one 
side,  and  covered  the  ground  with  a  sad  ruin  of  bright 
green  leaves,  fresh  horse-chestnut  flowers  and  frag- 
mented stems,  the  broken  ends  of  which  hung  very 
white  and  fresh,  and  shone  forth  like  pearls  amongst  the 
green  and  flowery  setting.  When  we  saw  it  about 
12  o'clock,  multitudes  of  visitors  were  climbing  into, 
over,  and  about  it,  some  were  gathering  flowers,  others 
a  stick,  others  wandering  in  and  out  and  under  the 
branches,  hiding  themselves  amongst  the  leaves.  Some 
of  these  people  had  heard  and  seen  it  fall.  In  the  after- 
noon, we  went  again  to  look  at  the  tree,  and  then  to  see 
into  what  a  state  the  people  had  brought  it.  Its  glory 
was  low  before  ;  but  now  to  see  how  it  was  abased  !  All 
the  flowers  gone  ;  such  stem  parts  as  had  projected  into 
the  air  had  served  for  horses  as  long  as  they  could  bear 
the  weight  added  to  them,  and  now  were  broken  down. 
In  the  morning,  it  was  a  beautiful  ruin,  and,  with  the 
people  among  it,  would  have  made  a  fine  picture ;  now 
it  was  a  degraded  and  almost  formless  heap.  And  behold 
another  tree  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  gate,  as  large  as 
the  former,  has  been  blown  down,  happily  without  injury 
to  any  one.  The  tree  snapped  off  short  about  eight  feet 
from  the  ground ;  in  its  fall  it  also  treated  a  neighbouring 
tree  very  sadly,  and  together  they  made  a  sad  heap  of 
ruins.  Besides  these  trees,  great  branches  were  lying 
about  under  other  trees  in  all  parts.  The  corner  tree 
on  the  right  of  our  house  on  the  green  had  a  very  large 
branch  torn  off;  so  also  had  another  tree  on  the  green, 


LETTERS   DURING    THE    PERIOD   OF    HIS   DECLINE.  433 

towards  the  west  and  north-west  part.     Branches  were      1860. 
torn  off  the  trees  in  Mr.  Eoberts'  ground  and  thrown    JET.' 68. 
into  our  garden,  but  happily  the   greenhouse  escaped. 
I  was  in  and  out  much.     Margery  also  rambled;  alto- 
gether, it  was  a  day  to  be  remembered. 

'  The  numbers  visiting  the  Palace  are  said  to  be  un- 
precedentedly  great.' 

FARADAY   TO   PROFESSOR   SCHONBEIN 
(THE  BURIAL  PLACE  or  WHOSE  DAUGHTER,  FARADAY  HAD  MARKED  IN 

THE  NORTH  LONDON  CEMETERY). 

'Royal  Institution:  March  27,  1860. 

1  My  dear  Schonbein, — It  seems  to  me  a  long  time 
since  we  have  spoken  together,  and  I  know  that  the 
blame  is  mine,  but  I  cannot  help  it,  only  regret  it, 
though  I  can  certainly  try  to  bring  the  fault  to  an  end. 
When  I  want  to  write  fo  you  it  seems  as  if  only 
nonsense  would  come  to  mind,  and  yet  it  is  not  non- 
sense to  think  of  past  friendship  and  dear  communions. 
When  I  try  to  write  of  science,  it  comes  back  to  me 
in  confusion  ;  I  do  not  remember  the  order  of  things,  or 
even  the  facts  themselves.  I  do  not  remember  what  you 
last  told  me,  though  I  think  I  sent  it  to  the  "  Phil. 
Mag.,"  and  had  it  printed ;  and  if  I  try  to  remember  up,  it 
becomes  too  much,  the  head  gets  giddy,  and  the  mental 
view  only  the  more  confused.  I  know  you  do  not 
want  me  to  labour  in  vain,  but  I  do  not  like  to  seem 
forgetful  of  what  you  tell  me,  and  the  only  relief  I 
have  at  such  times  is  to  arrest  myself,  and  believe  that 
you  will  know  the  forgetfulness  is  involuntary.  After 
all,  though  your  science  is  much  to  me,  we  are  not 
friends  for  science  sake  only,  but  for  something  better 
in  a  man,  something  more  important  in  his  nature, 

VOL.  II.  F  F 


434  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1860.     affection,  kindness,  good  feeling,  moral  worth  ;  and  so, 
M-r.  69.    in  remembrance  of  these,  I  now  write  to  place  myself 
in  your  presence,  and  in  thought  shake  hands,  tongues, 
and  hearts  together. 

'  We  are  all  pretty  well  here.  We  get  on  well 
enough,  in  a  manner,  and  are  very  happy,  and  I  cannot 
wish  you  better  things ;  though  I  have  no  intention, 
when  I  say  that,  to  imagine  you  without  your  memory 
or  your  science.  Long  may  you  be  privileged  to  use 
them,  for  the  good  of  human  nature. 

'  I  have  several  times  gone  into  a  place  of  rest,  to 
look  at  a  stone  you  know  of,  and  think  of  you  all. 
Such  places  draw  my  thoughts  much  now,  and  have 
for  years  had  great  interest  for  me ;  they  are  not  to 
me  mere  places  of  the  dead,  but  full  of  the  greatest 
hope  that  is  set  before  man,  even  in  the  very  zenith  of 
his  physical  power  and  mental  force.  But  perhaps  I 
disturb  you  in  calling  your  loss  to  mind ;  forgive  me. 
Yet  remember  me  very  kindly  to  the  mother  and 
sisters. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Schonbciu,  yours  affectionately, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   DR.   BECKER. 
'  The  Green,  Hampton  Court :  October  25,  1860. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Becker, — It  was  a  great  delight  to 
me  to  receive  your  very  pleasant  and  affectionate 
letter  last  month. 

'  I  have  been  greatly  interested  in  reading  your 
account  of  your  proceedings  at  Bonn,  Heidelberg,  and 
Giessen.  I  am  not  competent  to  form  an  opinion  of 
the  best  mode  of  pursuing  science  in  Germany  by  a 


LETTERS   DURING    THE   PERIOD    OF   HIS   DECLINE.  435 

German  mind ;  but  the  advice  of  Buff  is  that  which  1860. 
would  soonest  fall  in  with  my  own  thoughts  and  ways.  JET.' 697 
I  could  not  imagine  much  progress  by  reading  only, 
without  the  experimental  facts  and  trials  which  could 
be  suggested  by  the  reading.  I  was  never  able  to 
make  a  fact  my  own  without  seeing  it ;  and  the  de- 
scriptions of  the  best  works  altogether  failed  to  convey 
to  my  mind  such  a  knowledge  of  things  as  to  allow 
myself  to  form  a  judgment  upon  them.  It  was  so  with 
new  things.  If  Grove,  or  Wheatstone,  or  Gassiot,  or 
any  other,  told  me  a  new  fact,  and  wanted  my  opinion, 
either  of  its  value,  or  the  cause  or  the  evidence  it 
could  give  on  any  subject,  I  never  could  say  anything 
until  I  had  seen  the  fact.  For  the  same  reason,  I  never 
co aid  work,  as  some  professors  do  most  extensively, 
by  students  or  pupils.  All  the  work  had  to  be  my 
own.  I  know  very  well  that  my  mind  is  peculiarly 
constituted,  that  it  is  deficient  in  appreciation,  and, 
further,  that  the  difficulty  is  made  greater  by  a  failing 
memory.  From  this,  nevertheless,  you- will  understand 
how  my  thoughts  fall  in  with  Buff's  opinion,  and  how 
terrified  I  should  be  to  set  about  learning  science  from 
books  only.  However,  what  we  call  accident  has  in 
my  life  had  much  to  do  with  the  matter,  for  I  had  to 
work  and  prepare  for  others  before  I  had  earned  the 
privilege  of  working  for  myself,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  was  my  great  instruction  and  introduction  into 
physical  science.  " 

'  Believe  me  to  be,  my  dear  Dr.  Becker,  ever  faith 
fully  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


436  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1860.         Mr.  Stroud  wrote  to  ask  him  regarding  the  truth 
*  JET.' 69.'  of  some  statements1  made  by  a  lecturer  on  Faddington 
Green.     In  his  answer  he  said  : — 

FARADAY   TO   MR.    STROUD. 

1  The  Green,  Hampton  Court :  July  6,  1860. 

*  Sir, — Your  letter  has  surprised  me  a  good  deal,  for 
I  did  not  know  before  that  my  name  had  been  used  as 
you  describe,  and  cannot  now  imagine  how  it  has 
been  employed  upon  that  side  of  the  argument  where 
your  letter  places  it.  I  send  herewith  a  part  of  your 
letter  (which,  however,  I  will  thank  you  to  return  to  me 
again).  All  that  part  which  is  between  my  initials  on 
pp.  5  and  6  is  utterly  untrue.  I  never  made  animal- 
cules or  maggots  by  the  agency  of  electricity,  and  when 
others  said  they  had  done  anything  of  the  kind, 
opposed  their  views,  and  all  the  conclusions  derived  from 
them.  I  never  lectured  on  science  at  Cambridge  at 
all ;  no  lectures  of  mine  have  been  discontinued,  and 
if  I  have  given  offence  (which  I  can  only  imagine  in 

1  'When  combating  the  Old  Testament  narrative  of  the  creation  of  man, 
he  (Mr.  Wild)  adverted  to  certain  chemical  experiments  which  he  has 
alleged  were  made  hy  you  some  years  since,  hefore  audiences,  both  at 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  and  also  in  London,  when  you  demonstrated  that 
life  was  but  electricity,  by  producing  through  its  agency  animalcules, 
maggots,  &c.,  accompanying  those  experiments  by  the  remarks  addressed 
to  your  audiences,  as :  "  Gentlemen,  there  is  life,  and,  for  aught  I  can  tell, 
man  was  so  created."  Mr.  Wild  has  always  held  it  (and  has  related  the 
circumstance  to  show)  that  you  inferred  from  your  experiments  that  man 
could  be  created  or  generated,  and  in  all  probability  was  croated,  in  the 
same  modus  operandi  as  by  your  experiments. 

'  Mr.  W.,  in  relating  the  above,  has  always  added  that  so  unpalatable 
were  your  views,  and  contrary  to  what  was  received  as  orthodox,  that  the 
authorities  under  whose  auspices  the  lectures  were  given  (at  which  you 
experimented)  had  them  discontinued.' 


THE    DECLINE    AND    END    OP    HIS   LIFE.  437 

the  case  of  one  person1),  it  has  been  because  I  was     1861. 
supposed  to  pay  too  much  respect  to  the  Bible,  which  ir.69-70. 
I  believe  to  be  the  Word  of  God. 

'  Some  years  ago  I  delivered  a  lecture  on  education, 
which  has  since  been  reprinted  at  the  end  of  a  volume 
of  Juvenile  Lectures  on  the  forces  of  matter,  just  pub- 
lished by  Griffin,  I  believe.  Near  the  beginning  of  that 
lecture  you  will  find  a  public  answer  to  the  inquiries 
which  you  make  at  the  close  of  your  note. 

'  Your  letter  states  that  the  object  of  the  meetings  on 
Paddington  Green  is  the  elucidation  of  truth.  As  far  as 
your  letter  goes,  they  appear  to  me  to  have  been  effectual 
mainly  in  the  generation  and  propagation  of  error. 

'  You  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  use  this  letter  in 
connexion  with  the  subject  in  any  way  you  may  think  fit. 

'  I  am,  Sir,  your  very  faithful  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  work  in  1861  was  only  for  the  Trinity  House 
and  for  the  Eoyal  Institution. 

He  gave  ten  reports  to  the  Trinity  House.  One  of  these 
was  on  a  visit,  October  31,  to  Dungeness,  to  see  the  new 
magneto- electric  lamps,  the  machines,  and  the  steam- 
engines.  He  was  also  much  occupied  this  year  and  the 
next  with  the  adjustment  of  the  illuminating  apparatus 
to  the  lamp  flames  in  the  lighthouses.  He  devised  an 
apparatus  for  determining  the  course  and  focus  of  the 
rays,  and  rendered  the  system  of  adjustment  perfect. 

1  This  was  in  the  lecture  on  mental  education  in  1854  by  the  sentence 
'  Let  no  one  suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  self-education  I  am  about  to 
commend  in  respect  of  the  things  of  this  life  extends  to  any  considerations 
of  the  hope  set  before  us,  as  if  man  by  reasoning  could  find  out  God.' 


438  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1861.         For  the  Institution  he  gave  Friday  evening  discourses 
JEt.69-7o.  on  platinum,  and  on  Warren  de  la  Eue's  photographic 
eclipse  results. 

In  October  he  wrote  to  the  managers  of  the  Institu- 
tion : — *  It  is  with  the  deepest  feeling  that  I  address 
you.  I  entered  the  Royal  Institution  in  March  1813, 
nearly  forty-nine  years  ago,  and,  with  exception  of  a 
comparatively  short  period,  during  which  I  was  abroad 
on  the  Continent  with  Sir  H.  Davy,  have  been  with 
you  ever  since.  During  that  time  I  have  been  most 
happy  in  your  kindness,  and  in  the  fostering  care 
which  the  Royal  Institution  has  bestowed  upon  me. 
Thank  God,  first,  for  all  his  gifts.  I  have  next  to 
thank  you  and  your  predecessors  for  the  unswerving 
encouragement  and  support  which  you  have  given 
me  during  that  period.  My  life  has  been  a  happy 
one,  and  all  I  desired.  During  its  progress  I  have 
tried  to  make  a  fitting  return  for  it  to  the  Royal  In- 
stitution, and  through  it  to  science.  But  the  progress 
of  years  (now  amounting  in  number  to  threescore  and 
ten)  having  brought  forth  first  the  period  of  develop- 
ment, and  then  that  of  maturity,  have  ultimately 
produced  for  me  that  of  gentle  decay.  This  has  taken 
place  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  the  evening  of  life 
a  blessing ;  for  whilst  increasing  physical  weakness 
occurs,  a  full  share  of  health  free  from  pain  is  granted 
with  it ;  and  whilst  memory  and  certain  other  faculties 
of  the  mind  diminish,  my  good  spirits  and  cheerful- 
ness do  not  diminish  with  them. 

'  Still  I  am  not  able  to  do  as  I  have  done.  I  am 
not  competent  to  perform,  as  I  wish,  the  delightful 
duty  of  teaching  in  the  Theatre  of  the  Royal  Institu- 
tion, and  I  now  ask  you  (in  consideration  for  me)  to 


LETTERS   DURIXG   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  439 

accept  my  resignation  of  the  Juvenile  Lectures.  Being  1861. 
unwilling  to  give  up  what  has  always  been  so  kindly  ^Er.69-7?. 
received  and  so  pleasant  to  myself,  I  have  tried  the 
faculties  essential  for  their  delivery,  and  I  know  that  I 
ought  to  retreat ;  for  the  attempt  to  realise  (in  those 
trials)  the  necessary  points,  brings  with  it  weariness, 
giddiness,  fear  of  failure,  and  the  fiill  conviction  that 
it  is  time  to  retire  ;  I  desire  therefore  to  lay  down  this 
duty.  I  may  truly  say  that  such  has  been  the  pleasure 
of  the  occupation  to  me,  that  my  regret  must  be 
greater  than  yours  need  or  can  be. 

'  And  this  reminds  me  that  I  ought  to  place  in  your 
hands  the  whole  of  my  occupation.  It  is  no  doubt 
true  that  the  Juvenile  Lectures,  not  being  included  in 
my  engagement  as  professor,  were,  when  delivered  by 
me,  undertaken  as  an  extra  duty,  and  remunerated  by 
an  extra  payment.  The  duty  of  research,  superinten- 
dence of  the  house,  and  of  other  services,  still  remains ; 
but  I  may  well  believe  that  the  natural  change  which 
incapacitates  me  from  lecturing,  may  also  make  me 
unfit  for  some  of  these.  In  such  respects,  however,  I 
will  leave  you  to  judge,  and  to  say  whether  it  is  your 
wish  that  I  should  still  remain  as  part  of  the  Eoyal 
Institution.  I  am,  Gentlemen,  with  all  niy  heart,  your 
faithful  and  devoted  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Shortly  afterwards  he  wrote  to  the  Secretary  : — '  You 
know  my  feelings,  in  regard  to  the  exceedingly  kind 
manner  in  which  the  Board  of  Managers  received  my 
letter,  and  you  therefore  can  best  convey  to  them  my 
deep  thanks  on  this  occasion.  Please  do  this  for  me. 
Nothing  would  make  me  happier  in  the  things  of  this 


440  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

18G1.     life  than  to  make  some  scientific  discovery  or  develop- 
^ET.  ?o/  ment,  and  by  that  to  justify  the  Board  in  their  desire 
to  retain  me  in  my  position  here.' 

To  the  President  of  the  Eoyal  Institution,  who 
wished  to  resign  his  office,  Faraday  thus  wrote  : — 

FARADAY  TO  HIS  GRACE  THE  DUKE  OF  NORTHUM- 
BERLAND. 

'Royal  Institution  :  November  15,  1861. 

*  My  Lord  Duke, — Is  it  essential  to  yourself  that  we 
should  lose  you  ?     You  are  kind,  you  bear  with   us, 
you  do  not  disturb  our  management,  you  justify  it 
when  submitted  to  you,  you  do  all  that  we  desire.    No 
one  can  be  to  us  the  President  that  you  are. 

4  Mr.  Pole  has  shown  me  your  Grace's  note ;  it,  and 
the  remembrance  of  all  your  former  kindness,  makes 
me  thus  bold  to  write. 

*  That  your  Grace  may  know  of  my  sincerity,  I  quote 
a  small  thing  personal  to  myself.     I  am  above  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  with  a  bad  memory,  feel  the  thought 
of  the  Juvenile  Lectures  a  burden  to  me.     I  have  re- 
tired from  them  ;  but  as  the  managers  believe  that  the 
remembrance  of  past  times,  and  the  association  of  my 
name,  is  good  for  the  Koyal  Institution,  I  still  continue 
engaged  to  do  what  I  can  for  the  cause  of  science 
there.     May  I  hope  that  your  Grace  will  in  the  same 
way  continue  our  President. 

'  I  should  be  deeply  grieved  if  I  did  not  think  that 
your  Grace  will  forgive  me  the  freedom  of  this  letter. 
'  I  am,  my  Lord  Duke,  your  truly  humble  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

He  subscribed  most  liberally  to  the  fund  for  raising 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  441 

a   monument  to  Sir  II.  Davy  at  Penzance.     He  was      1861. 
made  an  Honorary  Member  of  the  Medical  Society  of  ^7.69-70. 
Edinburgh. 

Sir  Emerson  Tennant  wished  Faraday  to  witness  the 
phenomena  produced  by  Mr.  Home.  Faraday  says, 
in  his  reply  :  '  You  will  see  that  I  consent  to  all  this 
with  much  reserve,  and  only  for  your  sake.'  Three 
days  afterwards,  Sir  E.  Tennant  says  :  '  As  Mr.  Home's 
wife  is  dying,  the  probability  is  that  the  meeting,  at 
which  I  wished  you  to  be  present,  on  the  24th,  may 
not  take  place.  From  the  same  cause  I  am  unable  to 
see  Mr.  Home  previously,  or  to  make  the  inquiries  of 
himself  necessary  to  satisfy  the  queries  in  your  letter.' 

To  Professor  Schonbein  he  writes : — '  You  really 
startle  me  with  your  independent  antozone  .... 
Surely,  you  must  hold  it  in  your  hand  like  a  little 
struggler  ;  for  if  I  understand  you  rightly,  it  must  be 
a  far  more  abundant  body  than  caesium.  For  the  hold 
you  have  already  obtained  over  it,  I  congratulate  you, 
as  I  would  do  if  you  had  obtained  a  crown,  and  more 
than  for  a  new  metal.  But,  surely,  these  wonderful 
conditions  of  existence  cannot  be  confined  to  oxygen 
alone.  I  am  waiting  to  hear  that  you  have  discovered 
like  parallel  states  with  iodine,  or  bromine,  or  hydro- 
gen, and  nitrogen.  What  of  nitrogen?  is  not  its 
apparent  quiet  simplicity  of  action  all  a  sham  ?  not  a 
sham,  indeed  ;  but  still  not  the  only  state  in  which  it 
can  exist.  If  the  compounds  which  a  body  can  form 
show  something  of  the  state  and  powers  it  may  have 
when  isolated,  then  what  should  nitrogen  be  in  its 
separate  state  ?  You  see  I  do  not  work  ;  I  cannot ; 
but  I  fancy,  and  stuff  my  letters  with  such  fancies  (not 
a  fit  return)  to  you.' 


442  LIFE   OF  FARADAY. 

1861.         In  another  letter  he  says  :  '  I  am  still  dull,  stupefied, 
^ET.  70.    and  forgetful.     I  wish  a  discovery  would  turn  up  with 
me,  that  I  might  answer  you  in  a  decent,  respectable 
way.     But  it  will  not.' 

Still  later  he  says :  '  I  look  forward  to  your  new 
results  with  great  interest  ;*but  I  am  becoming  more 
and  more  timid  when  I  strive  to  collate  hypotheses 
relating  to  the  chemical  constitution  of  matter.  I 
cannot  help  thinking  sometimes  whether  there  is  not 
some  state  or  condition  of  which  our  present  notions 
give  us  very  little  idea,  and  which  yet  would  reveal  to 
us  a  flood,  a  world  of  real  knowledge, — a  world  of  facts 
available  both  by  practical  application  and  their  illus- 
trations of  first  principles  :  and  yet  I  cannot  shape  the 
idea  into  a  definite  form,  or  reach  it  by  any  trial  facts 
that  I  can  devise ;  and  that  being  the  case,  I  drop  the 
attempt,  and  imagine  that  all  the  preceding  thought 
has  just  been  a  dreaminess  and  no  more  ;  and  so  there 
is  an  end  of  it.' 

Writing  on  the  subject  of  an  angry  discussion  that 
had  occurred  in  a  family,  he  said  : — 

'August,  1861. 

'  We  may  well  regret  such  incidents.  It  is  not  that 
they  are  not  to  be  expected,  for  they  belong  to  our 
nature,  but  they  ought  to  be  repented.  They  are 
exceedingly  unwholesome  in  a  moral  point  of  view,  for 
they  generally  lead  each  one  in  private  to  justify  them- 
selves, and  so  foster  a  pharasaical  condition  of  mind, 
and  a  growing  tendency  to  judge  others  rather  than  our- 
selves. I  speak  from  my  own  conviction.  I  know  that 
the  real  root  in  such  cases  is  not  worth  a  thought ;  but, 
at  the  same  time,  I  know  that  a  vast  mass  of  the  un- 


LETTERS    DURING   THE    PERIOD    OF   HIS    DECLINE.  443 

comfort  of  life  depends  upon  the  tendency  to  criticise 
rather  than  to  excuse  or  commend  things  which  in 
one  view  or  another  deserve  the  latter  as  much  as  the 
former.  We  may  well  remember  Hamlet,  "  If  we  all 
had  our  deserts,  who  would  escape  a  whipping  ?  " 

FARADAY   TO   MISS   MOORE. 
'The  Green,  Hampton  Court :  August  14,  1861. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  have  been  writing  to  you  (in 
imagination)  during  a  full  week,  and  the  things  I  had 
to  talk  about  were  so  many  that  I  considered  I  should 
at  last  want  a  sheet  of  foolscap  for  the  purpose  ;  but 
as  the  thoughts  rose  they  sank  again,  and  oblivion 
covers  all.  And  so  it  is  in  most  things  with  me  ;  the 
past  is  goue,not  to  be  remembered  ;  the  future  is  coming, 
not  to  be  imagined  or  guessed  at ;  the  present  only  is 
shaped  to  my  mind.  But,  remember,  I  speak  only  of 
temporal  and  material  things.  Of  higher  matters,  I 
trust  that  the  past,  present,  and  future,  are  one  with 
me,  and  that  the  temporal  things  may  well  wait  for 
their  future  development. 

'  Ever  your  faithful  friend, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

1862  was  the  last  year  of  experimental  research. 
Steinheil's  apparatus  for  producing  the  spectrum  of 
different  substances  gave  a  new  method  by  which  the 
action  of  magnetic  poles  upon  light  could  be  tried.  In 
January  he  made  himself  familiar  with  the  apparatus, 
and  then  he  tried  the  action  of  the  great  magnet  on 
the  spectrum  of  chloride  of  sodium,  chloride  of  barium, 
chloride  of  strontium,  and  chloride  of  lithium. 


444  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1862.  On  March  12  he  writes  :  '  Apparatus  as  on  last  day 
jErjb-Ti.  (January  28),  but  only  ten  pairs  of  voltaic  battery  for 
the  electro-magnet. 

1  The  colourless  gas  flame  ascended  between  the 
poles  of  the  magnet,  and  the  salts  of  sodium,  lithium,  &c., 
were  used  to  give  colour.  A  Nicol's  polariser  was 
placed  just  before  the  intense  magnetic  field,  and  an 
analyser  at  the  other  extreme  of  the  apparatus.  Then 
the  electro-magnet  was  made,  and  unmade,  but  not  the 
slightest  trace  of  effect  on  or  change  in  the  lines  in 
the  spectrum  was  observed  in  any  position  of  polariser 
or  analyser. 

'  Two  other  pierced  poles  were  adjusted  at  the 
magnet,  the  coloured  flame  established  between  them, 
and  only  that  ray  taken  up  by  the  optic  apparatus 
which  came  to  it  along  the  axis  of  the  poles,  i.e.  in  the 
magnetic  axis,  or  line  of  magnetic  force.  Then  the 
electro-magnet  was  excited  and  rendered  neutral,  but 
not  the  slightest  effect  on  the  polarised  or  unpolarised 
ray  was  observed.' 

This  was  the  last  experimental  research  that  Faraday 
made.  His  scientific  faith  and  his  stedfastness  are 
well  seen  in  his  work  on  the  relation  of  electricity 
and  magnetism  to  light.  In  1834,  he  first  transmitted 
a  ray  of  polarised  light  directly  across  the  course  of 
the  electric  current  ('  Eesearches  in  Electricity,'  vol.  i. 
p.  285.)  In  1845  *  he  at  last  succeeded  in  magnetising 
and  electrifying  a  ray  of  light  (vol.  iii.  p.  2)  ;  and  now 
in  1862  he  ends  his  laboratory  work  with  the  same 
subject,  with  the  same  negative  result,  which  he  had 
obtained  twenty-eight  years  before. 

On  June  20,  he  gave  his  last  Friday  discourse  on 
gas-furnaces,  for  the  Institution.  The  notes  which  he 


THE    DECLINE   AND   END    OF   HIS   LIFE.  445 

made  for  this  his  last  lecture  are  very  touching  and      1862. 
very-  characteristic  : — 

'  Personal  explanation, — years  of  happiness  here,  but 
time  of  retirement ;  LOSS  OF  MEMORY  and  physical 
endurance  of  the  brain. 

'  1.  Causes — hesitation  and  uncertainty  of  the  convic- 
tions which  the  speaker  has  to  urge. 

'  2.  Inability  to  draw  upon  the  mind  for  the  treasures 
of  knowledge  it  has  previously  received. 

'  3.  Dimness,  and  forgetfulness  of  one's  former  self- 
standard  in  respect  of  right,  dignity,  and  self-respect. 

'  4.  Strong  duty  of  doing  justice  to  others,  yet  inability 
to  do  so. 

'  Retire.1 

In  1813,  when  writing  on  lecturers,  he  said:  'It 
may  perhaps  appear  singular  and  improper,  that  one 
who  is  entirely  unfit  for  such  an  office  himself,  and 
who  does  not  even  pretend  to  any  of  the  requisites  for 
it,  should  take  upon  him  to  censure  and  commend 
others.' 

Yet  in  1816,  he  began  to  lecture  at  the  City 
Philosophical  Society,  and  '  he  showed  his  strong  de- 
termination to  execute  everything  he  undertook  in  the 
best  manner,'  as  his  friend  Magrath  wrote  of  him,  by 
entering  himself  at  the  same  time  to  an  evening  class 
of  lectures  by  Mr.  B.  H.  Smart,  on  elocution.  His 
lectures  continuing,  the  following  year  he  entered  to 
another  course,  '  when  his  means  were  far  from  ample,' 
says  Mr.  Smart. 

In  1823,  previous  to  taking  a  part  in  Mr.  Brande's 
laboratory  lectures,  he  took  private  lessons  of  Mr. 
Smart,  *  at  the  rate  of  half  a  guinea  each ; '  and  in  1825 


446  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

1862.     and  1826  he  took  more  lessons,  before  lie  gave  his 

•MT. 70-71.  first  course  in  the  Theatre  of  the  Institution,  in  1827. 

Afterwards,  Mr.  Smart '  often  attended  his  lectures,  in 

order  to  provide  himself  with  ground  for  remark  on 

his  address  and  delivery.' 

The  following  rules  were  found  among  his  notes : — 

'  Never  to  repeat  a  phrase. 

'  Never  to  go  back  to  amend. 

4  If  at  a  loss  for  a  word,  not  to  ch-ch-ch  or  eh-eh-eh, 
but  to  stop  and  wait  for  it.  It  soon  comes,  and  the  bad 
habits  are  broken,  and  fluency  soon  acquired. 

4  Never  doubt  a  correction  given  to  me  by  another.' 

For  thirty-eight  years  his  lectures  were  the  life  of 
the  Royal  Institution.  His  singular  power  of  making 
himself  one  with  his  audience  was  felt  in  his  Juvenile 
Lectures,  in  his  theatre  courses,  and  in  his  Friday 
evening  addresses. 

In  his  Juvenile  Lectures,  his  simple  words  and  his 
beautiful  experiments,  his  quickness  and  his  clearness, 
kept  the  attention,  and  fixed  his  instruction  in  the 
mind  even  of  the  youngest  of  his  hearers,  whilst  the 
most  practised  teacher  would  find  old  experiments 
shown  in  a  new  form,  which  the  genius  of  Faraday 
only  could  have  invented,  and  which  his  handicraft 
enabled  him  to  carry  out. 

In  his  theatre  lectures,  his  matter  was  always  over- 
abundant, his  experiments  were  always  successful,  his 
knowledge  was  always  at  the  furthest  limits  to  which 
it  had  at  the  time  been  extended  by  himself  or  by 
others,  and  yet  his  consideration  for  those  who  knew 
but  little  never  failed. 


THE    DECLINE   AND   END    OF   HIS   LIFE.  447 

But  it  was  in  the  Friday  evening  discourses  that  his  1862. 
great  power  as  a  lecturer  came  out.  His  manner  was  ^.70-71'. 
so  natural,  that  the  thought  of  any  art  in  his  lecturing 
never  occurred  to  anyone.  Eapidly  and  yet  clearly, 
he  made  the  object  of  his  lecture  known.  Those  who 
had  but  little  knowledge  could  see  his  starting  point, 
and  they  thought  they  saw  where  he  was  going. 
Those  who  knew  most  followed  him  beyond  the  bounds 
of  their  own  knowledge,  forgetting  almost  the  lecturer, 
who  seemed  to  forget  himself  in  his  words  and  his 
experiments,  and  who  appeared  to  be  trying  only 
to  enable  them  to  judge  what  his  latest  discoveries 
were  worth  ;  and  when  he  brought  the  discoveries  of 
others  before  his  hearers,  one  object,  and  one  alone, 
seemed  to  determine  all  he  said  and  did,  and  that  was, 
'  without  commendation  and  without  censure,'  to  do 
the  utmost  that  could  be  done  for  the  discoverer. 

For  the  Juvenile  Lectures,  Faraday  had  always  re- 
ceived 50/.  This  year  the  Institution  added  this  sum 
to  the  400/.  which  were  paid  to  him  as  Director  of 
the  House  and  Laboratory,  and  as  Fullerian  Professor 
of  Chemistry. 

He  gave  seventeen  reports  to  the  Trinity  House 
and  two  to  the  Board  of  Trade.  The  most  important 
of  the  Trinity  House  reports  were  still  on  the  magneto- 
electric  light. 

On  February  12,  he  went  to  observe  the  new  light 
at  Dungeness  and  to  examine  the  keepers.  He  slept 
at  the  lighthouse,  and  was  joined  by  the  Deputy 
Master  in  the  yacht.  At  night  he  went  to  sea,  testing 
at  five  miles  off  the  effects  of  the  oil-lamp,  reflectors, 
and  the  electric  light,  Professor  Holmes  himself  being 
in  charge  of  the  lamps  for  the  trials.  Afterwards,  he 


448  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1862.  went  to  the  Yarne  floating  light,  and  compared  Dunge- 
J>.7o^7T.  ness,  Grisnez,  and  the  South  Foreland  lights.  He 
slept  at  Dover,  and  after  examining  the  upper  South 
Foreland  new  hydrostatic  lamp,  he  returned  home. 
On  May  12  and  13  he  was  again  at  Dungeness  with 
Mr.  Chance,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  '  that  the 
present  apparatus  is  abundantly  sufficient  to  supply 
every  proof  that  can  be  desired  to  establish  the  fitness 
(or  the  contrary),  of  the  magneto-electric  light  for 
lighthouse  purposes.* 

Observations,  according  to  a  form  drawn  up  by 
Faraday,  were  kept  at  Upper  and  Lower  South  Fore- 
land lighthouses,  at  the  Varne,  and  by  four  pilot 
cutters ;  and  a  special  observer,  trained  by  Faraday  to 
make  measurements  of  the  intensity  of  the  light,  was 
sent  for  six  months  to  the  Varne. 

This  year  he  was  examined  at  great  length  by  the 
Public  School  Commissioners.  His  most  memorable 
answers  were  these :  '  That  the  natural  knowledge 
which  had  been  given  to  the  world  in  such  abundance 
during  the  last  fifty  years,  I  may  say,  should  remain 
untouched,  and  that  no  sufficient  attempt  should  be 
made  to  convey  it  to  the  young  mind,  growing  up  and 
obtaining  its  first  views  of  these  things,  is  to  me  a 
matter  so  strange  that  I  find  it  difficult  to  understand ; 
though  I  think  I  see  the  opposition  breaking  away,  it 
is  yet  a  very  hard  one  to  be  overcome.  That  it  ought 
to  be  overcome,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  in  the 
world.'  In  answer  to  the  question  at  what  age  it 
might  be  serviceable  to  introduce  the  physical  sciences, 
he  says :  '  I  think  one  can  hardly  tell  that  until  after 
experience  for  some  few  years.  All  I  can  say  is  this, 
that  at  my  Juvenile  Lectures  at  Christmas  time,  I  have 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  449 

never  found  a  child  too  young  to  understand  Intel-      1&62. 
ligently  what  I  told  him ;  they  came  to  me  afterwards  J&rjo-n. 
with  questions  which  proved  their  capability.' 

Again  he  says :  '  I  do  think  that  the  study  of 
natural  science  is  so  glorious  a  school  for  the  mind, 
that  with  the  laws  impressed  on  all  created  things  by 
the  Creator,  and  the  wonderful  unity  and  stability  of 
matter  and  the  forces  of  matter,  there  cannot  be  a 
better  school  for  the  education  of  the  mind.' 

The  Duke  of  Devonshire,  at  his  installation  as 
Chancellor,  was  anxious  that  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge should  confer  the  degree  of  LL.D.  on  Faraday, 
'  as  a  practical  proof  would  be  afforded  of  the  Univer- 
sity's having  made  some  advance  in  liberality  of  senti- 
ment.' Thus,  under  the  new  statutes,  which  rendered 
a  profession  of  belief  in  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  un- 
necessary, almost  the  last  (as  well  as  the  first)  honour 
he  received  came  from  Cambridge.  He  was  also  made 
Knight  Commander  of  the  Order  of  St.  Maurice  and 
Lazarus,  Italy. 

Two  letters,  very  characteristic  of  his  affection  and 
resignation,  were  written  this  year,  the  one  to  Mrs. 
Faraday,  the  other  to  Mrs.  Barlow ;  and  a  very  sad 
note  to  Professor  Schb'nbein  brought  their  long  cor- 
respondence to  an  end.  'He  was  so  changed,  I  could 
not  write  any  more,'  said  Professor  Schb'nbein  to  me. 

FARADAY   TO   MRS.    FARADAY. 

'Brighton  :  Monday,  September  15, 
(December  15  post  mark)  1862. 

4  Home  safely,  dearest.  •  My  heart  is  with  you  all. 
'  Ever  yours, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

VOL.  II.  G  G 


450  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

^1862^       To  Mrs.  Barlow  he  said  :— 

•ZEiJO-Tl. 

8 1  write  you  a  few  words  of  sympathy  and  remem- 
brance. I  am  not  well  enough  to  write  many.  My 
throat  is  very  sore,  and  age  tells  with  the  attack,  but  I 
know  you  would  wish  a  few  words  rather  than  none. 
I  called  at  your  house,  and  I  rejoice  to  think  that  your 
absence  is  a  sign  of  good  health.  Our  love  to  you  both. 
I  am  enjoying  the  gradual  decay  of  strength  and  life, 
for  when  I  revive  it  is  no  great  revival  or  desire  to  me, 
and  that  cheers  me  in  the  view  of  death  near  and 
round  us.  We  think  it  impossible  that  my  dear  sister 
can  last  much  longer.' 

In  September  he  wrote  his  last  letter  to  Professor 
Schonbein.  He  says  : — 

'  Again  and  again  I  tear  up  my  letters,  for  I  write 
nonsense.  I  cannot  spell  or  write  a  line  continuously. 
Whether  I  shall  recover  —  this  confusion  —  do  not 
know.  I  will  not  write  any  more.  My  love  to 
you. 

In  1863  the  most  important  work  that  was  done 
was  for  the  Trinity  House.  He  made  twelve  reports, 
and  among  them  was  his  final  report  upon  the  magneto- 
electric  light  as  applied  to  lighthouses. 

On  February  17  and  18,  he  was  again  at  Dungeness. 
'The  examination  was  in  every  point  satisfactory.' 
The  chief  object  was  to  see  a  new  optic  apparatus  for 
the  magneto-electric  light ;  the  examination  on  the 
night  of  the  18th,  from  the  Varne,  fully  confirmed 
the  expectations  raised  by  the  examination  of  the 
previous  day.  Everywhere  'the  new  apparatus  sus- 
tained its  superiority  over  the  old.' 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  451 

In  June,  at  the  end  of  his  report  on  the  monthly  1863. 
observations  made  upon  the  electric  light,  he  says :  jEx.7i-72. 
'The  other  reports  require  no  especial  comment, 
but  I  think  the  general  character  and  action  of  the 
magneto-electric  light  at  Dtingeness  is  now  so  well 
established  by  the  accumulated  evidence  from  these 
various  outlying  places  of  observation,  that  their  con- 
tinuance is  hardly  required,  and  that  it  is  only  the 
general  surveillance,  with  the  record  of  any  special 
failure  or  departure  from  the  ordinary  result,  that  will 
be  required  in  future.  No  tabular  form  can  be  given 
for  these  ;  they  must  depend  upon  the  watchfulness  and 
willingness  of  the  parties  having  the  opportunities.' 

In  September,  when  making  a  report  upon  a  com- 
munication to  the  Trinity  House  from  the  Board  of 
Trade  regarding  Berlioz's  magneto- electric  machine, 
which  Faraday  had  examined  at  the  Exhibition  of  1862, 
he  says  : — 

'That  the  magneto-electric  machine  is  admirably 
adapted  for  application  in  lighthouses  is  not  a  con- 
clusion to  be  drawn  from  principle,  but  one  that  has 
been  thoroughly  established  by  practice  at  the  South 
Foreland  and  Dungeness  lighthouses,  i.e.  so  long  as  the 
knowledge,  attention,  and  precautions  are  secured  that 
are  necessary  for  the  uninterrupted  command  and 
security  of  the  light.' 

Thus  then,  the  application  of  the  magneto-electric 
light  to  lighthouses  by  Professor  Holmes,  passed 
through  the  second  stage  of  its  probation. 

After  examining  the  results  with  the  most  watchful 
care,  and  the  most  unbiassed  judgment,  Faraday  was 
able  to  recommend  that  his  own  grandest  discovery 

GG2 


452  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1863.     should  be  applied  to  '  the  great  object  of  guiding  the 
jET.7i^72.  mariner  across  the  dark  and  dreary  waste  of  water.' 

He  was  made  Foreign  Associate  of  the  Imperial 
Academy  of  Medicine,  Paris,  and  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences  of  the  United  States. 

The  following  letters  to  his  wife,  and  his  niece,  Miss 
Eeid,  abound  in  evidence  of  his  love  for  his  home. 

FARADAY  TO   MRS.    FARADAY. 

'  Dungenees,  Wednesday  :  February  13, 1863. 

*  Dearest, — Here  at  the  lighthouse  at  ten  o'clock  P.M., 
all  successful  so  far,  but  when  you  will  get  this  I  do 
not  know.  I  shall  put  it  in  the  post  to-morrow.  It 
is  now  bedtime,  and  as  we  have  made  our  observations 
here  pretty  well,  I  shall  be  able  to  start  to-morrow 
for  Dover.  The  weather  is  very  good  for  us  here,  and  I 
hope  to  be  home  on  Friday ;  perhaps  in  the  middle  of 
the  day.  Eemernber  me  ;  I  think  as  much  of  you  as 
is  good  for  either  you  or  me.  We  cannot  well  do 
without  each  other.  But  we  love  with  a  strong  hope 
of  love  continuing  ever,  in  which  hope  my  dear  Jeannie 
joins  us.  My  love  to  you  both, 

1  Ever  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

Another  letter  to  his  wife  may  well  be  compared 
in  its  affection  with  one  of  the  letters  which  he  wrote 
from  Swansea,  forty-one  years  previously. 


LETTERS   DURING    THE    PERIOD    OP   HIS   DECLINE.  453 

1863. 

FARADAY   TO    MRS.    FARADAY.  "_   •       ' 

yn/r.  71. 

'5,  Claremont  Gardens,  Glasgow:  Monday,  August  14,  1863. 

'  Dearest, — Here  is  the  fortnight  complete  since  I  left 
you,  and  the  thoughts  of  ray  return  to  our  home 
crowd  in  strongly  upon  my  mind.  Not  that  we  are  in 
any  way  uncared  for,  or  left  by  our  dear  friends,  save 
as  I  may  desire  for  our  own  retirement.  Everybody 
has  .overflowed  with  kindness,  but  you  know  their 
manner,  and  their  desire,  by  your  own  experience 
with  me. 

4 1  long  to  see  you,  dearest,  and  to  talk  over  things 
together,  and  call  to  mind  all  the  kindness  I  have 
received.  My  head  is  full,  and  my  heart  also,  but  my 
recollection  rapidly  fails,  even  as  regards  the  friends 
that  are  in  the  room  with  me.  You  will  have  to 
resume  your  old  function  of  being  a  pillow  to  my  mind, 
and  a  rest,  a  happy-making  wife. 

1  My  love  to  my  dear  Mary.  I  expect  to  find  you 
together,  but  do  not  assume  to  know  how  things  may  be. 

'  Jeannie's  love  with  mine,  and  also  Charlotte's,  and 
a  great  many  others  which  I  cannot  call  to  mind. 

'  Dearest,  I  long  to  see  and  be  with  you,  whether 
together  or  separate 

'  Your  husband,  very  affectionate, 

'  M.  FARADAY/ 

FARADAY   TO   HIS   NIECE,   MISS   REID. 

'  The  Green,  Hampton  Court :  October  1,  1863. 

*  Dear  Maggie, — So  we  turn  the  times  over.  Here  is 
the  first  of  a  new  month,  and  a  new  season  is  coming 
over  us,  for  the  rain  falls,  and  the  winds  blow,  and  the 
sun  shines  with  a  strength  and  in  an  order,  or  rather 


454  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1863.  disorder,  that  reminds  me  of  an  old  man,  who,  pur- 
J2x.  71.  posing  to  do  one  thing  is  drawn  off  to  do  another,  who, 
intending  to  communicate  with  you,  is  led  away  to  chat 
with  another  girl,  and  forgets  you.  However,  she  is 
gone.  I  forget  what  the  thought  was  like ;  its  end  is  con- 
fusion, and  so  I  come  to  wakefulness  and  life  again.' 

Then  he  writes  regarding  the  serious  illness  of  two 
relations,  and  continues :  '  All  these  events  may  well 
lessen  our  thoughts  and  hold  of  life.  But  what  a 
blessing  it  is  that  there  is  nothing  in  them  to  diminish 
the  hopes  belonging  to  that  far  better  life  to  which 
this  is  only  the  entrance. 

*  The  sorrow  is  for  the  night  only  ;  joy  cometh  in  the 
morning. 

'  Give  my  love  to  your  dear  father. 

*  You  know  I  am  clumsy  at  sending  loves,  and  wish 
not  to  be  mingled  with  those  who  do  it  as  of  habit, 
but  here  are  a  few  names  besides  those  I  have  men- 
tioned. 

'  I  must  stop,  or  I  shall  run  into  folly. 
'  Ever,  my  dear  Maggie,  your  affectionate  uncle, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO   MISS   MOORE. 
*  The  Green,  Hampton  Court:  September  17, 1863. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — Many  thanks  for  your  lightning- 
like  letter  ;  like  and  unlike — for  it  was  rather  slow  in 
its  progress,  having  been  mis-sent  to  Southampton,  vide 
enclosure ;  and  yet,  in  that,  like  the  lightning,  which 
often  falls  in  very  unexpected  places. 

1  Lightning  is  a  very  curious  thing ;  I  have  often  seen 
the  course  of  the  discharge  upon  trees,  beginning 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  455 

suddenly,   and   ending   as   unexpectedly   as   some   of     1863. 
those  your  brother  speaks  of.     We  have  to  remember    MT.  72. 
that  the  electricity  is  not  always  as  a  vivid,  concentrated, 
explosive  flash,  throughout  the  whole  of  its   course. 
The  cloud,  or  the  air  over  a  tree,  being  highly  charged, 
may  induce  torrents  upon  "it,  but  the  first  progress  of 
the   electricity   may  be,  in  fact,  invisible  streams  or 
brushes,  which,  as  they  come  together,  accumulate  and 
break  out  into  one  luminous,  concentrated,  and  power- 
ful spark.    We  can  easily  produce  an  effect  of  this  kind 
by  our  ordinary  electrical   machines,  when   working 
upon  the  conversion  of  sparks  and  brushes  into  each 
other.     I  have  several  times  seen  trees,  which,  having 
been  struck  by  lightning,  have  exhibited  afterwards 
the  beginning  and  the  ending  of  the  visible  barked 
place  :    the   beginning   having   occurred  at  the  angle 
where  one  branch  separated  from  another :    and  the 
ending  or  bottom  at  a  larger  part  of  the  trunk,  lower 
down.     By  examining  the  branches  carefully  upwards, 
I  have   seen   reason  to   believe — 1st,  that   when  the 
atmospheric  electricity  first   took   its   course   to    and 
through  the  tree,  it  has  fallen  on  the  leaves  and  fine 
stems,  chiefly  as  brushes,  or  in  the  non-luminous  and 
brush  state.     2nd,  that  as  these  have  been  conducted 
downwards,  they  have  run  together,  and  made  more 
concentrated  streams  ;  that  the  concentration  has  re- 
sulted in  the  production  of  one  powerful,  luminous, 
heating,  and  explosive  discharge.     3rd,  that   as   the 
quantity  of  electricity  was  continually  diminished  by 
the   conductive  force  of  the   tree  (as  the  electricity 
neared  the  ground,  and  the  mass  of  the  trunk  became 
a  larger,  and  therefore  a  more  effective  conductor  at  the 
lower  parts),  it  might  well  be  that  a  discharge  of  elec- 
tricity (appearing  as  a  bright  flash  in  one  part  of  the 


456  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

trunk),  would  before  it  reached  the  bottom  be  alto- 
gether conducted ;  and  then  would  lose  its  luminous 
character. 

'As  to  the  difference  between  the  edges  and  the 
middle  of  the  ruptured  place,  I  have  not  seen  the  case, 
therefore  have  no  right  to  form  an  opinion  ;  but  what 
say  you  to  these  thoughts  ?  the  tear  occurs  in  a  solid 
resisting  body  ;  it  is  perhaps  an  inch  wide,  and  several 
feet  long ;  the  dispersive  force  is  at  right  angles  to  the 
length  of  the  mark.  Can  we  not  imagine  that  the 
escape  of  the  disturbed  particles  is  easier  on  the  two 
sides  or  edges  of  the  course  of  the  explosion,  than  at 
the  middle,  and  can  that  circumstance  conduce  to  the 
difference  ? 

'  Ever,  my  dear  friend,  yours  truly, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

At  the  request  of  the  managers  of  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion, Faraday  asked  the  Prince  of  Wales  to  become 
Vice-Patron. 

FARADAY  TO  HIS  ROYAL  HIGHNESS  THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES. 
'  Royal  Institution :  January  5,  1863. 

'  May  it  please  your  Eoyal  Highness, — The  President, 
Secretary,  and  Managers,  remembering  the  great  grace 
which  was  done  to  the  body  when  the  late  Vice- 
Patron,  His  Eoyal  Highness  the  Prince  Consort,  with 
yourself  and  the  Prince  your  brother  favoured  our 
lectures  with  your  presence,  have  requested  me  to 
express  the  hope  they  entertain  that  your  Eoyal  High- 
ness will  allow  of  your  election  into  the  position 
then  filled  by  your  admirable  and  much-loved  father. 
It  is  because  I  had  the  honour  of  speaking  at  that  time 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OP   HIS   DECLINE.  457 

in  your  presence,  that  the  authorities  here  think  I  may     1863. 
not  .be   unacceptable   as   the  channel  through  which  MT.n-72. 
their  earnest  desire  may  be  made  known.     Our  most 
honoured  Queen   is   our  Patron  ;    and  that  we  may 
have  your  Eoyal  Highness  as  her  and  our  Vice-Patron 
is  the  most  earnest  wish  of  our  hearts.     Eemembering 
the  past,  we  hope  for  this  great  grace  for  the  future. 
With  the  deepest  feelings  of  respect,  I  venture  to  sign 
myself, 

'  Your  Eoyal  Highness's  faithful  servant, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

On  receiving  a  volume  of  the  Prince  Consort's 
speeches  from  the  Queen,  he  thus  wrote  to  Sir  James 
Clark  :— 

FARADAY   TO   SIR  JAMES  CLARK. 

'  Royal  Institution :  February  7,  1863. 

'  My  dear  Sir  James, — Her  Majesty  our  Queen  has 
done  me  great  honour  (and  a  favour  most  especially 
welcome)  in  thinking  of  me  in  relation  to  our  most 
worthy  and  glorious  Prince,  his  late  Eoyal  Highness  the ' 
Prince  Consort.  I  do  not  know  how  to  thank  Her 
Majesty  enough  or  well — may  I  hope  that  you  will 
help  me  ?  I  would,  if  I  might,  express  my  reverence 
for  the  Queen,  the  wife  and  the  mother  whose  image 
dwells  in  the  hearts  of  all  her  people.  I  wish  that  I 
were,  as  a  subject,  more  worthy  of  her  ;  but  the  vessel 
wears  out,  and  at  seventy-one  has  but  little  promise  for 
the  future.  The  fifty  years  of  use  in  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion has  given  me  wonderful  advantages  in  learning, 
many  friends,  and  many  opportunities  of  making  my 
gratitude  known  to  them ;  but  they  have  taken  the 
matter  of  life,  and  above  all,  memory  out  of  me,  leaving 


458  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1863.     the  mere  residue  of  the  man  that  has  been,  and  now  I 

*~JET.TL    remain   in   the  house  useless  as  to   further  exertion, 

excused  from  all  duty,  very  content  and  happy  in  my 

mind,  clothed  with  kindness  by  all,  and  honoured  by 

my  Queen. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Sir  James,  your  most  faithful  servant, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY   TO    DR.   CARPENTER, 

THE  REGISTRAR   OP   THE  LONDON   DIVERSITY. 

1  Royal  Institution  :  April  20,  1863. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Carpenter,  —  Many  of  your  recent 
summons  have  brought  so  vividly  to  my  mind  the 
progress  of  time  in  taking  from  me  the  power  of 
obeying  their  call,  that  I  have  at  last  resolved  to  ask 
you  to  lay  before  the  senate  my  desire  to  relinquish 
my  station  and  render  up  that  trust  of  duty  which  I 
can  no  longer  perform  with  satisfaction,  either  to 
myself  or  to  others. 

4  The  position  of  a  senator  is  one  that  should  not  be 
held  by  an  inactive  man  to  the  exclusion  of  an  active 
one.  It  has  rejoiced  my  heart  to  see  the  progress  of 
the  university,  and  of  education  under  its  influence  and 
power  ;  and  that  delight  I  hope  to  have  so  long  as  life 
shall  be  spared  to  me. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Dr.  Carpenter,  yours  most  truly, 

4M.  FARADAY.' 

FARADAY  TO  DR.   HOLZMAXN. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  December  22,  1863. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  have  just  risen  (at  midday)  from 
my  bed  to  acknowledge  your  very  pleasant  and  kindly 


LETTERS   DURING    THE    PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  459 

letter.  My  words  totter,  my  memory  totters,  and  now  1863- 
my  legs  have  taken  to  tottering,  and  I  am  altogether  a  •£&.  72. 
very  tottering  and  helpless  thing. 

'  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  Queen  looks  on  us  with 
such  favour  as  to  decide  that  His  Eoyal  Highness  Prince 
Arthur  should  attend  some  of  the  lectures.  You  may 
be  sure  of  my  earnestness  in  the  cause,  and  you  cannot 
think  how  much  Her  Majesty's  sanction  and  approval 
of  our  course  of  action  stimulates  all  here  to  persevere 
in  the  course  which  has  thus  far  gained  the  approba- 
tion of  Her  Majesty,  and  our  beloved  member  the  late 
Prince  Consort. 

'  Ever,  my  dear  Dr.  Holzmann,  yours  most  truly, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

In  1864,  twelve  reports  were  made  between  January 
and  October  to  the  Trinity  House.  One  was  on  a  new 
magneto-electric  machine ;  another  on  drawings,  pro- 
posals and  estimates  for  the  magneto-electric  light  at 
Portland.  He  made  seven  examinations  of  white  and 
red  leads,  and  two  examinations  of  waters  from  Orford- 
ness  and  the  Fog-gun  station,  Lundy  Island ;  and  he 
reported  on  two  4th-order  lights  for  the  Eiver  Gambia. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  he  was  asked  by  Mr.  Cole  to 
be  a  Vice-President  of  the  Albert  Hall.  He  replies  : — 
*  I  have  just  returned  from  Brighton,  to  which  place 
my  doctor  had  sent  me  under  nursing  care.  Hence 
the  delay  in  answering  your  letter,  for  I  was  unaware 
of  it  until  my  return.  Now,  as  to  my  acceptance  of 
the  honour  you  propose  to  me.  With  my  rapidly 
failing  faculties,  ought  I  to  accept  it?  You  shall 
decide.  Eemember  that  I  was  obliged  to  decline 
lecturing  before  Her  Majesty  and  the  Eoyal  Family  at 


460  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1864.  Osborne ;  that  I  have  declined  and  am  declining  the 
JET. 72-73.  Presidency  of  the  Eoyal  Society,  the  Eoyal  Institution, 
and  other  bodies ;  declaring  myself  unfit  to  undertake 
any  responsibility  or  duty  even  in  the  smallest  degree. 
Would  it  not  therefore  be  inconsistent  to  allow  my 
name  to  appear  amongst  those  of  the  effectual  men 
who  delight,  as.  I  should  have  done  under  other 
circumstances,  to  honour  in  every  way  the  memory  of 
our  most  gracious  and  regretted  leader  ?  These  are  my 
difficulties.  It  is  only  the  name  and  the  remembrance 
of  His  Eoyal  Highness  which  would  have  moved  me 
from  a  long-taken  resolution.' 

Mr.  Cole  decided,  '  without  a  moment's  doubt,  that 
he  was  to  be  a  Vice-President.' 

He  was  made  Foreign  Associate  of  the  Eoyal  Academy 
of  Sciences,  Naples. 

A  letter  which  he  wrote  this  year  to  his  friend  Miss 
Moore  shows  how  the  feeling  of  increasing  weakness 
was  growing  upon  him  :  '  I  find  myself  less  and  less  fit 
for  communication  with  society ;  even  in  a  meeting  of 
family — brothers  and  sisters — I  cannot  keep  pace  in 
recollection  with  the  conversation,  and  so  have  to  sit 
silent  and  taciturn.  Feeling  this  condition  of  things,  I 
keep  myself  out  of  the  way  of  making  an  exposure  of 
myself.  Eemaining  life  is  only  for  my  friends  who 
receive  me  for  past  affection's  sake,  and  also  for  what  I 
am.  Now  I  count  you  amongst  these,  so  notwithstanding 
bad  spelling  and  other  deficiencies,  keep  up  the  public 
current  of  kind  communication.' 

He  wrote  another  letter  to  a  niece  which  gives  a 
vivid  picture  of  that  wonderful  humility  which  was  one 
of  the  great  characteristics  of  his  mind : — 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF   HIS   DECLINE.  461 


PARADAY   TO   A   NIECE. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  April  10, 1864. 

'  My  very  dear  Niece  and  Friend, — This  is  the  evening 
of  the  Sabbath  day.  We  have  just  come  home,  bring- 
ing   with  us ;  have  had  our  tea,  and  by  this 

most  agreeable  though  waning  light,  I  propose  to  thank 
you  for  your  kind  and  acceptable  note.  .  .  . 

'  I  am  at  present  as  well  as  I  think  any  man  at  my  age 
has  any  reason  to  expect  to  be,  and  in  many  points  I 
am  much  better.  It  is  true  my  memory  is  much  gone, 
nearly  all  gone ;  and  the  power  of  recollection  is  nearly 
lost,  as  to  precision.  But  then  all  about  me  are  very 
kind.  My  worldly  friends  remember  the  times  past,  and 
do  not  want  me  to  give  up  my  posts  or  pay,  yet 
willingly  remit  the  work  ;  and  then  He  who  rules  over 
all  is  kinder  than  all ;  and  though  I  sometimes  tremble 
when  I  have  occasion  in  doctrine  or  judgment  to  use 
His  word,  being  unable  to  remember  it,  I  dare  not  ven- 
ture to  put  that  (his  Eldership)  from  me  which  He  has 
put  upon  me ;  and  I  call  to  mind  that  His  throne  is  a 
throne  of  grace,  where  prayer  may  be  made  for  help  and 
strength  in  time  of  need.  And  He  makes  my  brethren 
so  kind,  that  there  is  only  one  of  the  number  who 
teases  me,  and  that  is  myself,  and  I  often  think  pride 
and  the  absence  of  humility  has  much  to  do  with 
that ' 

He  thus  replied  to  an  invitation  from  the  Messrs. 
Davenport : — 


462  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1864. 
•ffix-72-73-  FARADAY  TO   MESSRS.    DAVENPORT. 

'  October  3, 1864. 

'  Gentlemen, — I  am  obliged  by  your  courteous  invi- 
tation, but  really  I  have  been  so  disappointed  by  the 
manifestations  to  which  my  notice  has  at  different  times 
been  called,  that  I  am  not  encouraged  to  give  any  more 
attention  to  them,  and  therefore  I  leave  these  to  which 
you  refer  in  the  hands  of  the  professors  of  legerdemain. 
If  spirit  communications  not  utterly  worthless,  of  any 
worthy  character,  should  happen  to  start  into  activity,  I 
will  leave  the  spirits  to  find  out  for  themselves  how  they 
can  move  my  attention.  I  am  tired  of  them. 

4  With  thanks,  I  am  very  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 


To  a  gentleman  who  invited  him  to  some  spiritual 
manifestations  he  sent  these  answers  : — 


FARADAY   TO   THOS.    S ,  ESQ. 

<  Royal  Institution ;  November  1,  1864. 

1  Sir, — I  beg  to  thank  you  for  your  papers,  but  have 
wasted  more  thought  and  time  on  so-called  spiritual 
manifestation  than  it  has  deserved.  Unless  the  spirits 
are  utterly  contemptible,  they  will  find  means  to  draw 
my  attention. 

'How  is  it  that  your  name  is  not  signed  to  the 
testimony  that  you  give  ?  Are  you  doubtful  even  whilst 
you  publish  ?  I've  no  evidence  that  any  natural  or 
unnatural  power  is  concerned  in  the  phenomena  that 
requires  investigation  or  deserves  it.  If  I  could  consult 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD   OF  HIS   DECLINE.  463 

the  spirits,  or  move  them  to  make  themselves  honestly      1864. 
manifest,  I  would  do  it.     But  I  cannot,  and  am  weary  ~3to.~r^ 
of  them. 

'  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

M.  FARADAY.' 

TO   THE   SAME. 

'  Royal  Institution  :  November  4,  1864. 

« Sir, — I  beg  to  acknowledge  your  letter  of  the  3rd, 
but  I  am  weary  of  the  spirits — all  hope  of  any  useful 
result  from  investigation  is  gone ;  but  as  some  persons 
still  believe  in  them,  and  I  continually  receive  letters,  I 
must  bring  these  communications  to  a  close.  Whenever 
the  spirits  can  counteract  gravity  or  originate  motion, 
or  supply  an  action  due  to  natural  physical  force,  or 
counteract  any  such  action  ;  whenever  they  can  punch 
or  prick  me,  or  affect  my  sense  of  feeling  or  any  other 
sense,  or  in  any  other  way  act  on  me  without  my  wait- 
ing on  them  ;  or  working  in  the  light  can  show  me  a 
hand,  either  writing  or  not,  or  in  any  way  make  them- 
selves visibly  manifest  to  me  ;  whenever  these  things  are 
done  or  anything  which  a  conjuror  cannot  do  better; 
or,  rising  to  higher  proofs,  whenever  the  spirits  describe 
their  own  nature,  and  like  honest  spirits  say  what  they 
can  do,  or  pretending,-as  their  supporters  do,  that  they 
can  act  on  ordinary  matter  whenever  they  initiate 
action,  and  so  make  themselves  manifest ;  whenever  by 
such-like  signs  they  come  to  me,  and  ask  my  attention 
to  them,  I  will  give  it.  But  until  some  of  these  things 
be  done,  I  have  no  more  time  to  spare  for  them  or  their 
believers,  or  for  correspondence  about  them. 

'  I  am,  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 
'  M.  FARADAY.' 


464  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1865. 
JEr.73-74.  FARADAY   TO    REV.    W     H.    M.    CHRISTIE 

(ON   THE  DEATH   OF   HIS   FATHER). 

1  Royal  Institution:  January  25,  1866. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — Very  many  thanks  for  your  note.  I 
am  not  surprised  by  the  information,  but  greatly  inter- 
ested. For  I  am  as  one  waiting  the  call  and  warned  by 
each  example  of  an  old  friend.  I  am  glad  he  and  you 
were  spared  the  example  of  pain,  but  the  dealings  of 
God  are  very  merciful. 

*  Do  not  think  of  me  as  regards  the  funeral.  I  could 
not  attend  it  if  I  would,  and  such  things  are  to  me  only 
formal.  I  shall  always  remember  him  whilst  time  is 
left  to  me  as  a  dear  old  friend.  I  hope  the  family  Avill 
be  comforted. 

'  Ever  yours  truly, 

'M.  FARADAY.' 

In  May  1865,  he  made  his  last  report  for  the  Trinity 
House.     It  was  on  St.  Bees  light. 
He  wrote  to  the  Deputy  Master  : — 

6 1  write  to  put  myself  plainly  before  you,  in  respect 
of  the  matter  about  which  I  called  two  days  ago.  At 
the  request  of  the  then  Deputy  Master,  I  joined  the 
Trinity  House  in  February,  1836,  now  near  upon  thirty 
years  since.  I  find  that  time  has  had  its  usual  effect 
upon  me,  and  that  I  have  lost  the  power  of  remember- 
ing, and  also  of  other  sorts,  and  I  desire  to  relieve  my  • 
mind.  Can  this  be  done  without  my  retiring  alto- 
gether, and  can  you  help  me  in  this  matter  ? ' 

Arrangements  were  immediately  made,  by  which 
Dr.  Tyndall  undertook  the  work  for  Faraday. 


LETTERS   DURING   THE   PERIOD    OF   HIS   DECLINE.  465 

From  first  to  last,  his  engagement  with  the  Trinity     1865. 
House  showed  the  noble  spirit  that  was  in  him.  .ZET.73-74. 

When  he  was  appointed  scientific  adviser  in  1836, 
he  told  the  Deputy  Master  '  of  his  indifference  to  his 
proposition  as  a  matter  of  interest,  though  not  as  a 
matter  of  kindness.' 

The  work  which  he  did  included  the  ventilation  of 
lighthouses,  the  arrangements  of  their  lightning  con- 
ductors, the  analysing  and  supervising  of  their  drinking 
waters  ;  the  examination  of  their  optical  apparatus ;  the 
determination  of  the  worth  of  the  different  propositions 
made  to  the  Trinity  House  regarding  the  lights,  ex- 
tending from  the  practical  use  of  the  magneto-electric 
light,  even  down  to  the  samples  of  cottons,  oils,  and 
paints  that  were  to  be  used. 

His  knowledge,  judgment,  accuracy,  and  dutiful 
service  were  repaid  by  an  appointment  known  only  to 
very  few  persons, — an  unlimited  amount  of  kindness, 
and  20  01.  a  year. 

It  will  be  said  that  the  Trinity  House,  like  the  Eoyal 
Institution,  was  only  a  private  company.  Perhaps,  like 
the  Institution,  it  would  gladly  have  given  more  money, 
but  it  was  only  able  to  give  kindness,  which  to  Faraday 
was  beyond  all  money  and  all  fame.  Even  the  work 
which  he  did  for  the  Government,  he  did  'for  love,' 
and  not  for  pay.  In  his  letter  to  Lord  Auckland,  he 
said :  '  I  have  always,  as  a  good  subject,  held  myself 
ready  to  assist  the  Government,  if  in  my  power,  not  for 
pay,  for,  except  in  one  instance  *  (and  then  only  for 
the  sake  of  the  person  joined  with  me),  I  refused  to 
take  it.' 

All  that  he  did  for  the  Government,  the  Eoyal  In- 

*  The  Haswell  Colliery  investigation. 
VOL.  II.  H  H 


466  LIFE  OF  FARADAY; 

1865.     stitution,   and  the  Trinity  House,   was  done  for  the 
jEr.78-74.  honour  and  service  of  his  country. 

Writing  to  Lord  Wrottesley  regarding  rewards  for 
scientific  men,  he  said :  « For  its  own  sake,  the  Govern- 
ment should  honour  the  men  who  do  honour  and 
service  to  the  country.'  '  I  have,  as  a  scientific  man, 
received  from  foreign  countries  and  sovereigns,  honours 
which  surpass,  in  my  opinion,  anything  which  it  is  in 
the  power  of  my  own  to  bestow.'  Most  noble  England ! 

For  his  Trinity  House  work,  Faraday  did  receive  the 
highest  reward  a  scientific  man  can  obtain,  but  it  did 
not  come  from  the  Government  nor  from  the  Trinity 
House.  He  was  able  to  report  that  his  own  grandest 
discovery  could  be  made  useful  for  the  preservation 
of  the  lives  of  seamen. 

This  year  Sir  David  Brewster  sent  him  a  pamphlet 
on  the  invention  and  introduction  of  the  dioptric 
lights,  and  asked  him  to  give  his  opinion  on  the 
value  and  importance  of  these  lights.  He  replied  :— 

' ....  I  would  rather  not  enter  as  an  arbitrator  or 
judge  into  the  matter,  for  I  have  of  late  been  resigning 
all  my  functions  as  one  incompetent  to  take  up  such 
matters,  and  the  Eoyal  Institution,  as  well  as  the 
Trinity  House,  have  so  far  accepted  them  as  to  set  me 
free  from  all  anxiety  of  thought  in  respect  to  them. 
In  fact,  my  memory  is  gone,  and  I  am  obliged  to  refrain 
from  reading  argumentative  matter,  or  from  judging  of 
it.  I  am  very  thankful  for  their  tenderness  in  the 
matter ;  and  if  it  please  Providence  to  continue  me  a  ; 
year  or  two  in  this  life,  I  hope  to  bear  the  decree 
patiently.  My  time  for  contending  for  temporal 
honours  is  at  an  end,  whether  it  be  for  myself  or 
others.' 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  467 

To  the  managers  of  the  Royal  Institution  he  wrote,      1865. 
March  1 : — 


FARADAY   TO   THE   MANAGERS   OF   THE    INSTITUTION. 

'Unless  it  be  that  as  I  get  older  I  become  more 
infirm  in  mind,  and  consequently  more  timid  and 
unsteady,  and  so  less  confident  in  your  warm  expres- 
sions, I  might,  I  think,  trust  more  surely  in  your  reso- 
lution of  December  2,  1861,  and  in  the  reiterated 
verbal  assurances  of  your  kind  secretary,  than  I  do ; 
but  I  become  from  year  to  year  more  shaken  in  mind, 
and  feel  less  able  to  take  any  responsibility  on  me.  I 
wish,  therefore,  to  retire  from  the  position  of  superin- 
tendent of  the  house  and  laboratories.  That  which  has 
in  times  past  been  my  chiefest  pleasure  has  now  become 
a  very  great  anxiety  ;  and  I  feel  a  growing  inability  to 
advise  on  the  policy  of  the  Institution,  or  to  be  the  one 
referred  to  on  questions  both  great  and  small,  as  to  the 
management  of  the  house. 

1  In  a  former  letter,  when  laying  down  the  Juvenile 
Lectures,  I  mentioned  "  that  other  duties,  such  as  re- 
search, superintendence  of  the  house,  and  other  services 
still  remain ; "  but  I  then  feared  that  I  might  be  found 
unfit  for  them ;  I  am  now  persuaded  that  this  is  the 
case.  If  under  these  circumstances  you  may  think  that 
with  the  resignation  of  the  positions  I  have  thus  far 
filled  the  rooms  I  occupy  should  be  at  liberty,  I  trust 
that  you  will  feel  no  difficulty  in  letting  me  leave  them, 
for  the  good  of  the  Institution  is  my  chief  desire  in  the 
whole  of  this  action. 

'  Permit  me  to  sign  myself  personally,  your  dear,  in- 
debted, and  grateful  friend,  '  M.  FARADAY.' 


468  LIFE   OF    FARADAY. 

1865.         At   the  meeting  of  the  managers  it  was  resolved 
JEx.73-74.  unanimously — 

'  That  the  managers  thank  Professor  Faraday  for  the 
scrupulous  anxiety  which  he  has  now  and  ever  shown 
to  act  in  every  respect  for  the  good  of  the  Eoyal  Insti- 
tution. They  are  most  unwilling  that  he  should  feel 
that  the  cares  of  the  laboratories  and  the  house  weigh 
upon  him.  They  beg  that  he  will  undertake  only  so 
much  of  the  care  of  the  house  as  may  be  agreeable  to 
himself;  and  that,  whilst  relinquishing  the  duties  of 
"  Director  of  the  laboratory,"  he  will  retain  his  home 
at  the  Eoyal  Institution.' 

Before  this  resolution  was  proposed,  the  Secretary 
wrote  to  Faraday  to  ask  whether  it  could  be  made 
more  in  accordance  with  his  wishes.  He  answered : — 

FARADAY   TO   THE   SECRETARY  OF   THE   INSTITUTION. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Bence  Jones, — I  would  not  have  a 
word  altered  of  that  which  marks  so  truly  the  kindness 
of  the  managers  and  yourself,  and  I  would  say  as  little 
as  possible  to  hide  in  any  way  that  kindness  from 
myself.  Believe  me  that  I  thank  you  for  the  great 
continuance  of  it :  and  thank  them  from  me.  I  still 
live  in  hopes  that  I  may  occasionally  deserve  the  con- 
tinuance of  it,  though  I  know  not  how. 

'  Ever,  most  truly  yours, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  members  in  May,  a 
resolution  was  passed  expressing  their  sympathy  with 
'  their  valued  and  esteemed  friend  in  his  indisposition.' 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  469 

He  signed  the  following  note  to  the  Secretary : —  1865. 

JEr.73-74: 
FARADAY   TO  THE   SECRETARY   OF   THE   INSTITUTION. 

'  Hampton  Court  Green :  May  5. 

4  My  dear  Friend, — I  have  received  through  Mr. 
Vincent  a  copy  of  the  resolution  passed  last  Tuesday 
concerning  me  ;  I  feel  much  gratified  by  their  warm 
remembrance,  and  I  now  write  to  ask  you  to  return 
my  affectionate  thanks  at  the  next  opportunity. 

'  I  am,  dear  Dr.  Bence  Jones,  your  friend  affectionately, 

4  M.  FARADAY.' 

To  Sir  James  South,  who  wished  to  have  some 
account  of  Anderson's  services,  Faraday  wrote : — 

*  Whilst  endeavouring  to  fulfil  your  wishes  in  relation 
to  my  old  companion,  Mr.  Anderson,  I  think  I  cannot 
do  better  than  accompany  some  notes  which  he  has 
himself  drawn  up  and  had  printed,  by  some  remarks 
of  mine,  which  will  show  how,  and  how  long,  he  has 
been  engaged  here. 

4  He  came  to  assist  in  the  glass-house  for  the  service 
of  science,  in  September  1827,  where  he  remained 
working  until  about  1830.  Then  for  a  while  he  was 
retained  by  myself.  In  1832  he  was  in  the  service  of 
the  Eoyal  Institution,  and  paid  by  it.  From  that  time 
to  the  present  ^he  has  remained  with  that  body,  and 
has  obtained  their  constant  approbation.  In  January, 
1842,  they  raised  his  pay  to  100/.  per  annum,  with 
praise.  In  1847  they  raised  it  in  like  manner  to  110/. 
For  the  same  reason,  in  1853,  they  raised  it  to  120/.  ; 
and  in  1860,  in  a  minute,  of  which  I  think  Mr. 
Anderson  has  no  copy,  they  say  that,  in  consideration 


470  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1865.     of  his  now  lengthened  services,  and  the  diligence  exhi- 
isT.73-74.  bited  by  him,  they  are  of  opinion  that  his  salary  should 
be  raised  to  130£ 

4  Mr.  Anderson  still  remains  with  us,  and  is  in  cha- 
racter what  he  has  ever  been.  He  and  I  are  companions 
in  years,  and  in  work,  and  in  the  Eoyal  Institution. 
Mr.  Brande's  testimony,  when  he  left  the  Institution,  is 
to  the  same  purport  as  the  others.  Mr.  Anderson  was 
seventy-five  years  of  age  on  the  12th  of  last  month 
(January).  He  is  a  widower,  but  has  a  daughter  keep- 
ing his  house  for  him.  We  wish  him  not  to  come  to 
the  Eoyal  Institution,  save  when  he  is  well  enough  to 
make  it  a  pleasure ;  but  he  seems  to  be  happy  being  so 
employed.' 

He  showed  the  state  of  his  health  and  also  his 
anxiety  to  do  all  he  could  in  an  answer  which  he 
sent  to  one  of  the  Ministers  who  wrote  to  him  regard- 
ing the  Cattle  Plague.  '  I  would  gladly  be  of  use  if  I 
can,  but  I  fear  it.  Your  Lordship  knows  that  I  resigned 
the  Senate  of  the  University  of  London,  because  loss  of 
faculty,  and  especially  memory,  took  away  any  useful 
power,  and  that  loss  goes  on  increasing.  Yesterday  was 
my  seventy-fourth  birthday,  and  that  does  not  promise 
any  improvement.  Nor  have  I  any  medical  education 
or  experience  to  give  me  the  force  necessary.  I  would 
gladly  help  if  I  could,  and  have  often  thought  of 
applying  to  Miss  B.  Coutts,  but  have  felt  discouraged. 
Does  your  Grace  think  it  is  desirable  under  such  circum- 
stances to  place  me  on  such  a  commission  ? 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

In  the  fine  summer  at  Hampton  Court  he  sat  in  his 
window  delighting  in  the  clouds  and  the  holiday-people 


THE    DECLINE    AND    END    OF    HIS    LIFE.  471 

on  the  green.     A  friend  from  London  asked  him  how      1865. 
he  was.      '  Just  waiting,'  he  replied.     This  he  had  said  ir.73-74. 
more  fully  to  H.E.H.  the  Count  of  Paris  in  answer  to 
an  invitation  to  Twickenham  earlier  in  the  year. 


FAKADAY  TO  H.K.H.  THE  COUNT  OF  PAEIS. 

'  21  Albemarle  Street :  February  7, 1865. 

'  How  shall  I  answer  your  E.H.  for  the  handsome 
and  most  courteous  letter  which  I  have  received,  seeing 
it  must  indeed  be  by  an  apology  for  not  accepting  the 
grace  offered  me,  but  I  think  that  the  weakness,  and 
infirmities  of  old  age,  and  above  all  the  loss  of  memory, 
which  makes  this  necessary,  will  be  the  sufficient  and 
acceptable  reason. 

'  I  bow  before  Him  who  is  Lord  of  all,  and  hope 
to  be  kept  waiting  patiently  for  His  time  and  mode  of 
releasing  me  according  to  His  Divine  Word,  and  the 
great  and  precious  promises  whereby  His  people  are 
made  partakers  of  the  Divine  nature. 

4  My  deepest  thanks  are  due  to  Her  Eoyal  Highness 
the  Princess.  Accept  me  with  my  weaknesses,  and 
believe  me  to  be  your  Eoyal  Highness's  grateful  arid 
humble  servant, 

'  M.  FAKADAY.' 

In  January  1866,  Anderson  died,  and  Sir  James 
South  wished  some  monument  to  be  put  up  to  him, 
and  wrote  to  Faraday.  He  replied : — '  My  dear  old 
friend,  I  would  fain  write  to  you,  but,  indeed,  write  to 
no  one,  and  have  now  a  burn  on  the  fingers  of  my 
right  hand  which  adds  to  my  trouble  ;  so  that  I  still 
use  my  dear  J.'s  hand  as  one  better  than  my  own,  and 


472  LIFE   OF   FARADAY. 

1865.  fear  I  give  her  great  work  by  so  doing.  She  has,  I 
JET. 73 -74.  understand,  written  to  you  this  morning,  and  told  you 
how  averse  I  arn  to  meddling  with  sepulchral  honours 
in  any  case.  I  shall  mention  your  good  will  to 
Anderson,'  [here  Faraday  took  the  pen,  because  his 
niece  made  some  objection  to  the  words  '  mention 
the  good  will  to  Anderson,'  who  was  dead]  ;  '  but  I 
tell  them  what  are  my  feelings.  I  have  told  several 
what  may  be  my  own  desire.  To  have  a  plain  simple 
funeral,  attended  by  none  but  my  own  relatives,  followed 
by  a  gravestone  of  the  most  ordinary  kind,  in  the 
simplest  earthly  place. 

1  As  death  draws  nigh  to  old  men  or  people,  this 
world  disappears,  or  should  become  of  little  importance. 
It  is  so  with  me  ;  but  I  cannot  say  it  simply  to  others 
|  here  he  gave  up  his  writing,  and  his  niece  finished  the 
note],  for  I  cannot  write  it  as  I  would. 

'  Yours,  dear  old  friend,  whilst  permitted, 

'  M.  FARADAY.' 

During  the  winter  he  became  very  feeble  in  all  mus- 
cular power,  but  he  took  the  greatest  interest  in  the 
description  which  Mr.  Wilde  sent  him  of  his  new  mag- 
neto-electric induction  machine.  He  wrote  the  date  of 
the  letter  upon  each  page  of  the  manuscript ;  and 
almost  the  last  pleasure  he  showed  in  scientific  things 
was  in  a  long  spark  given  by  a  Holtz  electric  machine. 

In  the  spring,  for  a  short  time,  with  decreasing  power, 
there  was  occasional  wandering  of  the  mind.  One  day  he 
fancied  he  had  made  some  discovery  somehow  related 
to  Pasteur's  dextro-  and  laevo-racemic  acid.  He  desired 
the  traces  of  it  to  be  carefully  preserved,  for  '  it  might 
be  a  glorious  discovery.' 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END   OF   HIS   LIFE.  473 

Mrs.  Faraday  had  told  me  many  months  before  this     1866. 
time,  .that  he  intended  her  to  give  me  after  his  death  ^1.74-75. 
his  second  edition  of  the  works  of  Shakespear.     In 
the  summer  I  received  the  volume  with  the  following 
note,  which  he  had  dictated  and  signed. 

FARADAY  TO  DR.  BENCE  JONES. 

1  Hampton  Court  Green :  July  23,  1866. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — It  is  my  wish  you  should  have 
this  volume,  while  I  am  still  able  to  have  a  voice  in 
the  matter.  It  will  be  a  remembrance  of  the  affection 
of  yours,  '  Ever  sincerely, 

*  M.  FARADAY.' 

The  Society  of  Arts  this  summer  gave  him  the  Gold 
Albert  medal  for  his  discoveries  in  chemistry,  electri- 
city, and  other  branches  of  physical  science,  which  in 
their  application  to  the  industries  of  the  world  have 
largely  promoted  arts,  manufactures,  and  commerce. 

His  loss  of  power  became  more  and  more  plain 
during  the  autumn  and  winter :  all  the  actions  of  the 
body  were  carried  on  with  difficulty ;  he  was  scarcely 
able  to  move ;  but  his  mind  continually  overflowed 
with  the  consciousness  of  the  affectionate  care  of  those 
dearest  to  him. 

In  1867,  his  niece,  Miss  Eeid,  thus  writes  : — 

'April  22. 

*  This  day  we  begin  another  visit  to  Hampton  Court. 
This  is  the  ninth  year  that  we  have  had  the  privilege  of 
seeing  spring  blossoms  in  this  pleasant  comfortable  house 
by  the  kind  invitation  of  my  dear  uncle  and  aunt ;  they 
have  always  said  (and  I  believe  it)  that  their  own  en- 


474  LIFE   OP   FARADAY. 

1867.  joyment  of  the  house  has  been  heightened  by  the  power 
'lEi!  75.'  it  has  given  them  of  sharing  its  benefits  with  others.  .  . 

'  This  year  we  came  with  a  melancholy  thought  of 
dear  uncle's  declining,  half-paralysed  state 

'  We  remained  three  weeks,  till  the  middle  of  May, 
and  then  my  uncle,  aunt,  and  Jane  took  up  their 
abode  there  until  the  end  came. 

'  I  spent  June  at  Hampton  Court.  Dear  uncle  kept 
up  rather  better  than  sometimes,  but  oh !  there  was 
always  pain  in  seeing  afresh  how  far  the  mind  had 
faded  away.  Still  the  sweet  unselfish  disposition  was 
there,  winning  the  love  of  all  around  him. 

'  Very  gradual  had  been  the  weaning,  and  the  time 
was  far  past  when  we  used  to  look  to  him  on  every 
occasion  that  stirred  our  feelings.  When  any  new 
object  attracted  our  notice,  the  natural  thought  always 
was,  what  would  our  uncle  think  of  this  ? 

i  There  was  always  something  about  him  which  par- 
ticularly attracted  confidence.  In  giving  advice,  he 
always  went  back  to  first  principles,  to  the  true  right 
and  wrong  of  questions,  never  allowing  deviations 
from  the  simple  straightforward  path  of  duty  to  be 
justified  by  custom  or  precedent,  and  he  judged  himself 
strictly  by  the  same  rule  which  he  laid  down  for  others. 

'  I  shall  never  look  at  the  lightning  flashes  without 
recalling  his  delight  in  a  beautiful  storm.  How  he 
would  stand  at  the  window  for  hours  watching  the  effects 
and  enjoying  the  scene ;  while  we  knew  his  mind  was 
full  of  lofty  thoughts,  sometimes  of  the  great  Creator, 
and  sometimes  of  the  laws  by  which  He  sees  meet 
to  govern  the  earth. 

'  I  shall  also  always  connect  the  sight  of  the  hues  of  a 
brilliant  sunset  with  him,  and  especially  he  will  be 
present  to  my  mind  while  I  watch  the  fading  of  the 


THE   DECLINE   AND    END    OF    HIS   LIFE.  475 

tints  into  the  sombre  gray  of  night.  He  loved  to  have 
us  with, him,  as  he  stood  or  sauntered,  on  some  open 
spot,  and  spoke  his  thoughts  perhaps  in  the  words  of 
Gray's  Elegy,  which  he  retained  in  memory  clearly  long 
after  many  other  things  had  faded  quite  away.  Then, 
as  darkness  stole  on,  his  companions  would  gradually 
turn  indoors,  while  he  was  well  pleased  to  be  left  to 
solitary  communing  with  his  own  thoughts.' 

One  day,  a  few  weeks  before  his  death,  one  who  was 
sitting  with  him  at  the  window  said,  '  See,  dearest, 
what  a  beautiful  rainbow!'  He  looked  at  it  with  a 
happy  look,  and  said,  '  Yes,  the  rainbow  has  set  its 
testimony  in  the  heavens.' 

On  the  26th  of  August  his  niece,  Miss  Barnard,  thus 
wrote  to  me  at  Spa: 

'  Hampton  Court,  August  26,  1867. 

'  My  dear  Dr.  Bence  Jones, — Our  cares  are  over :  our 
beloved  one  is  gone.  He  passed  away  from  this  life 
quietly  and  peacefully  yesterday  afternoon.  Almost 
immediately  after  you  saw  him,  a  little  more  than  a 
fortnight  ago,  he  became  weaker,  and  has  said  very 
little  to  us  or  taken  much  notice  of  anything  from  that 
time ;  but  still  we  did  not  expect  the  change  until  an 
hour  or  two  before  it  happened. 

'  He  died  in  his  chair,  in  his  study  ;  and  we  feel  we 
could  desire  nothing  better  for  him  than  what  has 
occurred. 

'  My  aunt  and  I  feel  that  you  were  the  last  friend 
that  he  showed  any  lively  interest  in,  and  we  are  very 
glad  you  saw  him  before  you  went  away. 

« I  am,  dear  Dr.  Jones,  yours  very  sincerely, 

'  JANE  BARNAED.' 


476  LIFE    OF   FARADAY. 

On  September  3  she  again  wrote  to  me  : — 

'The  funeral  took  place  on  Friday  (the  30th), 
leaving  here  at  9 '30,  and  taking  up  some  of  the 
mourners  at  the  Koyal  Institution,  and  from  thence  to 
Highgate.  By  my  dear  uncle's  verbal  and  written 
wishes,  it  was  strictly  private  and  plain.  We  could  not 
but  follow  out  his  last  wishes.  I  must  not  lead  you  to 
think  we  did  not  fully  enter  into  his  views,  but  some 
would  have  liked  it  otherwise. 

1  My  occupation  has  gone. 

4  Ever  most  sincerely  and  gratefully  yours, 

'JANE  BARNARD.' 

In  conclusion,  in  the  fewest  words  I  will  state  his 
chief  characteristics  as  a  philosopher,  and  shortly  put 
together  the  greatest  of  those  qualities  which  made 
the  beauty  and  nobleness  of  his  character. 

As  a  philosopher,  his  first  great  characteristic  was 
the  trust  which  he  put  in  facts.  He  said  of  him- 
self, '  In  early  life  I  was  a  very  lively  imaginative 
person,  who  could  believe  in  the  "  Arabian  Nights  "  as 
easily  as  in  the  "  Encyclopaedia,"  but  facts  were  impor- 
tant to  me,  and  saved  me.  I  could  trust  a  fact.'  Over 
and  over  again  he  showed  his  love  of  experiments 
in  his  writings  and  lectures  :  '  Without  experiment 
I  am  nothing.'  '  But  still  try,  for  who  knows  what  is 
possible  ? '  '  All  our  theories  are  fixed  upon  uncertain 
data,  and  all  of  them  want  alteration  and  support  from 
facts.'  '  One  thing,  however,  is  fortunate,  which  is,  that 
whatever  our  opinions,  they  do  not  alter  nor  derange 
the  laws  of  nature.' 

His  second  great  characteristic  was  his  imagination. 


THE   DECLINE   AND   END    OP   HIS   LIFE.  477 

It  rose  sometimes  to  divination,  or  scientific  second  1867. 
sight,  and  led  him  to  anticipate  results  that  he  or  others  'JET.'  75. 
afterwards  proved  to  be  true. 

Throughout  his  life  his  ideas  of  force  and  of  matter 
differed  from  those  held  by  others  ;  thereby  he  was  led  to 
form  plans  for  the  broadest  and  newest,  as  well  as  the 
exactest  experiments.  In  one  of  his  first  lectures  he 
spoke  of  realising  '  the  once  absurd  notion  of  the  trans- 
mutation of  the  elements,'  and  obtaining  '  the  bases  of 
the  metals.' 

The  discoveries  of  Davy  and  Oersted  led  him  into 
more  connected  ideas  of  force,  and  he  imagined  that 
there  might  be  one  great  universal  principle  from 
which  gravity,  heat,  light,  electricity,  magnetism,  even 
life  itself,  might  come. 

He  hoped  to  prove  by  experiment  that  there  was 
more  than  a  connection  between  the  imponderable 
agents.  He  worked  to  find  more  even  than  a  relation- 
ship, more  than  a  common  origin,  for  the  forces  of 
nature.  He  wanted  to  establish  an  actual  identity 
among  them,  and  in  his  search  for  the  unity  of  all 
force  he  made  all  his  great  discoveries. 

Later  in  life  a  new  image  of  matter  came  into  his 
mind.  He  immaterialised  matter  into  '  centres  of  force,' 
and  he  materialised  the  directions  in  which  matter 
tends  to  move  into  '  physical  lines  of  force.'  What  he 
took  from  matter  at  its  centres  and  gave  to  force  he 
partly  gave  back  to  matter  in  the  lines  of  its  motion. 
By  this  he  enlarged  and  added  to  the  subjects  which 
he  thought  naturally  possible  for  experiment  to  attack, 
and  to  experiment  he  went  to  test  his  ideas,  and 
though  he  failed  to  realise  his  imaginations,  yet,  by  his 
genius,  and  truthfulness,  and  handicraft,  he  filled  his 
experimental  researches  with  new  and  connected  facts, 


478  LIFE   OF   FAKADAY. 

1867.  and  thus  he  left  to  science  a  monument  of  himself  which 
JET.  75.  will  last  in  all  its  grandeur  for  ages. 

As  a  man,  the  beauty  and  the  nobleness  of  his  cha- 
racter was  formed  by  very  many  great  qualities.  Among 
these  the  first  and  greatest  was  his  truthfulness.  His 
noble  nature  showed  itself  in  his  search  for  truth.  He 
loved  truth  beyond  all  other  things ;  and  no  one  ever 
did  or  will  search  for  it  with  more  energy  than  he  did. 

His  second  great  quality  was  his  kindness  (agape). 
It  was  born  in  him,  and  by  his  careful  culture  it  grew 
up  to  be  the  rule  of  his  life ;  kindness  to  every  one, 
always — in  thought,  in  word,  and  in  deed. 

His  third  great  quality  was  his  energy.  This  was 
no  strong  effort  for  a  short  time,  but  a  lifelong 
lasting  strife  to  seek  and  say  that  which  he  thought  was 
true,  and  to  do  that  which  he  thought  was  kind. 

Some  will  consider  that  his  strong  religious  feeling 
was  the  prime  cause  of  these  great  qualities ;  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  one  of  his  natural  qualities  was  greatly 
strengthened  by  his  religion.  It  produced  what  may 
well  be  called  his  marvellous  humility. 

That  one  who  had  been  a  newspaper  boy  should 
receive,  unsought,  almost  every  honour  which  every 
republic  of  science  throughout  the  world  could  give ; 
that  he  should  for  many  years  be  consulted  con- 
stantly by  the  different  departments  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  other  authorities,  on  questions  regarding 
the  good  of  others ;  that  he  should  be  sought  after  by 
the  princes  of  his  own  and  of  other  countries ;  and  that 
he  should  be  the  admiration  of  eveiy  scientific  or 
unscientific  person  who  knew  anything  of  him,  was 
enough  to  have  made  him  proud ;  but  his  religion 
was  a  living  root  of  fresh  humility,  and  from  first 
to  last  it  may  be  seen  growing  with  his  fame  and 


THE    DECLINE    AND    END    OF   HIS   LIFE. 

reaching  its  height  with  his  glory,  and  making  him 
to  the  end  of  his  life  certainly  the  humblest,  whilst  he 
was  also  the  most  energetic,  the  truest,  and  the  kindest 
of  experimental  philosophers. 

To  complete  this  picture,  one  word  more  must  be 
said  of  his  religion.  His  standard  of  duty  was  super- 
natural. It  was  not  founded  upon  any  intuitive  ideas 
of  right  and  wrong ;  nor  was  it  fashioned  upon  any 
outward  expediencies  of  time  and  place ;  but  it  was 
formed  entirely  on  what  he  held  to  be  the  revelation  of 
the  will  of  God  in  the  written  Word,  and  throughout 
all  his  life  his  faith  led  him  to  endeavour  to  act  up  to 
the  very  letter  of  it. 


479 


FARADAY'S  TOMB  IN  HIGHGATE  CEMETERY. 


INDEX. 


ABBOTT,  Mr.  B.,  i.   13,  50.     Fara- 
day's letters  to.     See  Letters 

Abbott,  Mr.  Robert  G.,  his  death,  i.  319. 
Letters  to.  See  Letters 

Academy  del  Cimento,  i.  108 

Acarus  Crossii,  production  of,  by  elec- 
tricity, ii.  270 

Acqua  bollente,  i.  144 

Agassiz  in  the  Alps,  ii.  154.  Letters  to. 
See  Letters 

Air,  electricity  of  the,  ii.  256 

Airy,  Professor,  his  letters  to  Mr.  Bar- 
low, on  magnetic  philosophy  and 
gravity,  ii.  347,  349,  351 

Aix,  visit  to,  ii.  127 

Albert,  Prince  Consort,  at  private  lec- 
ture, ii.  239 

Albert  Edward,  Prince  of  Wales,  his 
letter  to  Faraday,  ii.  369 

Alfred,  Prince,  his  letter  to  Faraday, 
ii.  369 

Alkalies,  lecture  on,  i.  226 

Alps,  passage  of,  in  winter  1814,  i.  196, 
et  seq. 

Ammonia,  on  tbe  formation  of,  i.  342 

Ampere,  M.,  his  experiments  on  electro- 
magnetism,  i.  3 15.  His  letters  to  Fara- 
day. See  Letters 

Anastatic  printing,  ii.  200 

Anderson.  Serjeant,  i.  357.  Becomes 
Faraday's  assistant,  359 ;  ii.  470. 
His  death,  472 

Antinori,  M.,  his  experiments,  ii.  17, 18 

Antozone,  independent,  ii.  441 

Apartments,  French  and  English  con- 
trasted, i.  88 

Apennines,  valleys  of  the,  i.  129 

Apparatus,  Faraday  on,  i.  63 

Arago,  M.,  i.  18.  Prince  Louis  Napoleon's 
letter  to,  ii.  166.  His  astronomical 
lecture,  217 

Armstrong,  Sir  W.,  his  discovery  of 
electricity  in  steam,  ii.  160 

Artesian  well  in  Trafalgar  Square,  ii.  200 

Athenaeum  Club,  i.  340;  ii.  110 

Auckland,  Lord,  Faraday's  letter  to  and 
from  him,  ii.  228-230 

VOL.  II.  I  I 


Avalanches,  ii.  147,  148 
Azote  and  chlorine,   compound  of,  ex- 
plosion of,  i.  53,  54 


"DANCALARI,  his  discovery,  ii.  221 

JD    Bangor,  visit  to,  i.  261 

Bard,  a  Welsh,  i.  265 

Barfleur,  lighthouse  of,  ii.  213 

Barlow,  Professor,  his  experiments  in 
electricity,  ii.  13 

Barlow,  Rev.  John,  Professor  Airy's 
letters  to,  on  magnetic  philosophy 
and  gravity,  347,  349,  351 

Barnard,  Mr.  George,  his  recollections 
of  Faraday,  i.  377.  In  the  Alps,  ii. 
131  et  scg. 

Barnard,  Miss  E.,  letters  to.  See  Letters 

Barnard,  Miss  Jane,  letters  to.  See 
Letters 

Barnard,  Miss  Sarah,  i.  277.  Engaged 
to  Faraday,  278.  Married  to  him, 
285.  See  Letters 

Begging  in  Italy,  i.  143.  In  Switzer- 
land, ii.  149 

Bess,  blind,  i.  263 

Blanc,  Mont,  ii.  65 

Blanclford  Street  shop,  i.  9 

Block  machinery,  Brunei's,  lecture  on, 
i.  363 

Books,  French,  i.  89 

Borghese.  Villa,  i.  118 

Brande,  Mr.,  his  lectures,  i.  66.  His 
lectures  on  Geology,  199.  His  '  Quar- 
terly Journal  of  Science,'  202.  His 
resignation,  ii.  305 

Brayley,  Mr.,  i.  306 

Brienz  Lake,  ii.  150 

Brighton  in  1824,  i.  349,  350 

Bristol,  visit  to,  i.  251 

Brown,  Mr.  Robert,  his  discovery  of 
active  molecules  in  bodies,  organic 
and  inorganic,  i.  362 

Browne,  Dr.  S.  M.,  his  experiments,  ii. 
170.  Faraday's  letter  to.  See  Let- 
ters 


482 


INDEX. 


Burning-glass  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany,  i.  109.     Used,  110 


CADER  IDRIS,  i.  256,  258.  Storm 
on,  259 

Candle,  lectures  on  the  chemical  history 
of  a,  ii.  429 

Carbon,  lecture  on,  i.  212 

Cardigan  Bay,  i.  256 

Carnival  at  Rome,  i.  157-159,  170 

Cavallo,  Monte,  palace  of,  i.  117 

Chaillot,  waterworks  of,  ii.  219 

Chemical  affinity,  lectures  on,  i.  192; 
ii.  104 

'  Chemical  Manipulation,'  Faraday's 
work  on,  i.  351.  His  lectures  on  the 
subject,  354 

Chemical  queries  in  1817,  i.  213 

Chemistry,  definition  of,  i.  26.  Mutual 
relation  of  electrical  and  chemical 
phenomena,  ii.  47.  Faraday's  lec- 
tures on  physico-chemical  philosophy, 
ii.  223.  Faraday's  views  on  the  way 
in  which  it  should  be  taught,  284. 
Identity  of  electricity  and  chemical 
affinity,  ii.  380 

Chevreul,  M.,  his  laboratory,  i.  90. 
Visit  to,  ii.  216 

Chlorine,  i.  27  et  seq.  Lecture  on,  i.  196. 
Faraday  on  fluid  chlorine,  336 

Christie,  Mr.,  ii.  13 

Christmas  at  Rome,  i.  153 

Chronoscope,  Wheatstone's  electro-mag- 
netic, ii.  222 

City  Philosophical  Society,  i.  50,  51. 
Lectures  at  the,  i.  191,  209,  222  et  seq. 

Clapham  Wood  Hall,  i.  1-3 

Clement,  M.,  his  paper  on  iodine,  i.  89 

Coblentz,  ii.  128,  159 

Colburn,  Zerah,  the  calculating  boy, 
i.  199 

Cologne,  visit  to,  ii.  128 

Colosseum,  the,  i.  120 

Colours,  Greek  and  Roman,  i.  165,  175 

Combustion,  lecture  on,  i.  209  ;  ii.  321 

Controversy,  scientific,  ^ Faraday's 
thoughts  on,  ii.  314 

Courtois,  M.,  his  disco  very  of  iodine,  i.  87 

Crucibles  for  fusing  alloys  of  steel, 
i.  296 

Crystals,  Pliicker's  discovery  of  the 
action  of,  ii.  233.  Tyndal]  and 
Knoblauch's  investigations,  236 


DANIELL,  Professor,  his  battery,  ii. 
35,  36.     At  Liverpool,  95 


letters  to  Faraday.     See 


Dauben}',  Dr.,  letter  to  Faraday.     See 
Letters 

Davy,  Sir  H.,  his  theory  of  muriatic  acid, 
i.  27,  31,  33.  Faraday's  first  ac- 
quaintance with  him,  47,48.  Wounded, 
53.  Goes  abroad,  73.  His  experi- 
ments on  iodine,  87,  89,  91,  95.  His 
safety-lamp,  190.  His  discovery  of 
potassium,  190.  On  the  nature  of 
flame,  217.  His  statement  as  to 
electro-magnetic  rotation,  306,  307. 
His  jealousy  of  Faraday,  335.  Opposes 
Faraday's  election  to  the  Royal  So- 
ciety, 339.  His  doubts  as  to  the 
experiments  respecting  diffusion  of 
gases,  352.  Faraday's  lecture  on  the 
safety-lamp,  361.  Monument  to  him, 
ii.  440.  Hi 
Letters 

Davy,  Lady,  i.  165,  177 

Deacon,  Mrs.,  ii.  312.    -See  Letters 

Dean,  Elizabeth,  i.  1 

Definitions,  i.  26 

De  la  Rive,  M.  G.,  i.  221.     His  corre- 
spondence with  Faraday.    See  Letters 

De  la  Rive,  M.  A.,  i.  222.     Letters  to. 
See  Letters 

Devil's  Bridge,  i.  256 

Devonshire,  scenery  of,  i.  84 

Diagrams,  Faraday  on,  i.  63 

Diamond,  combustion  of,  i.  110,  111 

Doberiner,  M.,  his  discovery  of  the  ac- 
tion of  spongy  platinum,  ii.  43 

Doctor's  man,  a  Welsh,  i.  257 

Dolland,  Mr.,  i.  347 

Dowlais,  works  at,  i.  252 

Drachenfels,  ii.  128 

Dress  in  various  countries,  i.  149 

Dress  in  Normandy,  ii.  214 

Drummond,    Colonel,    letter    to.      See 
Letters 

Dumas,  M.,  ii.  16.      His  discovery  of 
oxalamide,  217.     -Ste  Letters 


EAR,  condition  and  use  of  the  tym- 
panum of  the,  ii.  69 
Earths,  lecture  on,  i.  226 
Education,  Faraday's  lecture  on  mental, 

ii.  320 
Electric  telegraph,  the  first  in  Germany, 

ii.  52.     Faraday  on  submarine,  319 
Electricity,  Faraday's  first  experiments 

on,  i.  ITet  seq.  Faraday's  queries,  244. 

His  experiments  on  electro-magnetism, 

315.     His  juvenile  lectures  on,  363; 

ii.  69.     His  first  period  of  electrical 

research,  ii.  1  et  seq.,  20  et  seq.,  23 


INDEX. 


483 


ELE 


FAR 


et  seq.  His  comparison  of  frictional 
with  voltaic  electricity,  ii.  22.  His 
researches  on  a  new  law  of  elec- 
trical conduction  and  conducting 
power  generally,  23.  His  experi- 
ments on  electro-chemical  decompo- 
sition, 28-34.  Daniell's  battery,  35. 
A  new  battery,  44,  45.  Faraday's 
lectures  on  the  mutual  relation  of 
electrical  and  chemical  phenomena, 
47,  67,  77,  379.  Specific  induc- 
tive capacity  possessed  by  insula- 
tors, 80.  Experiments  on  the 
Gymnotus,  84.  The  contact  theory, 
102.  .Researches  on  the  electricity  of 
steam,  160.  Prince  Louis  Napoleon's 
letters,  165,  169.  Faraday's  latter 
period  of  electrical  research,  193. 
His  lectures  on  static  electricity,  237, 
304,  397.  Eelation  of  gravity  to 
electricity,  247.  Electricity  of  the 
air,  256.  Juvenile  lectures  on  vol- 
taic electricity,  304.  Faraday  on 
the  production  of  induction  currents 
in  liquids,  323,  326,  330.  Conclusion 
of  Faraday's  experimental  researches, 
343. 

Electro-magnetic  rotation,  Faraday's 
discovery,  i.  299.  Dr.  Wollaston  on, 
299,  301,  306,  307,  310.  Faraday's 
publication  of  his  historical  state- 
ment respecting  it,  310 

Electricity,  magnetic,  Faraday's  experi- 
ment on,  i.  343,  344  ;  ii.  1  et  seq. 
Ampere's  experiments,  i.  315 

Ericsson's  caloric  engine,  Faraday's  dis- 
course on,  ii.  48 

Etretat,  visit  to,  ii.  21 1 


FAEADAY,  Robert,  i.  1 
Faraday,  Eobert  (Faraday's  bro- 
ther), ii.  163;  his  death,  220 

Faraday,   Elizabeth  (Faraday's  grand- 
mother), i.  1-4 

Faraday,  James  (Faraday's  father),  i. 
2,  6 

Faraday,  John  (Faraday's  uncle),  i.  6 

Faraday,  Margaret  (his  younger  sister), 
i.  153,  172.    Letters  to.     See  Letters 

Faraday,  Michael: — 

—  his  ancestors,  i.  1 

—  in  Jacob's  Well  Mews,  i.  7 

—  in  Blandford  Street,  i.  9 

—  errand  boy,  i.  10 

— -  apprenticed  to  Mr.  George  Eiebau, 
indentures,  i.  11 

—  his  first  scientific  books,  i.  1 1 


Faraday,  Michael — continued 

—  attends  scientific  lectures,  i.  1 1 

—  learns  perspective,  i.  12 

—  his  '  Philosophical  Miscellany,'  i.  12 

—  makes  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Hux- 
table  and  of  Mr.  Abbott,  i.  13 

—  his  first  visit  to  the  Eoyal  Institu- 
tion, i.  14 

—  asks  Sir  Joseph  Banks  to  give  him 
scientific  work,  i.  14 

—  his  correspondence  with  Mr.  Abbott, 
i.  15 

—  makes  his  first  galvanic  battery  and 
experiments,  i.  17,  27 

—  on  chlorine,  i.  28,  31 

—  journeyman  bookbinder,  i.  39 

—  his   first   acquaintance  with  Sir  II. 
Davy,  i.  47,  48 

—  becomes   chemical   assistant  at   the 
Eoyal  Institution,  i.  49 

—  first  goes  to  the  City  Philosophical 
Society,  i.  50 

—  first  work  at  the  Institution,  i.  52 

—  wounded,  i.  53,  54 

—  on  lectures  and  lecturers,  i.  58  et  seq, 

—  on  the  choice  of  experiments  for  lec- 
tures, i.  69 

—  his  short  account  of  himself,  i.  71 

—  goes   abroad   with  Sir  H.  Davy,  i. 
73 

—  his  journal,  i.  75  et  seq. 

—  in  France,  i.  77 

—  in  the  Alps,  i.  97 

—  in  Italy,  i.  1 03 

—  at  Naples,  i.  120 

—  at  Padua,  i.  159 

—  at  Eome,  i.  113,  173,  204 

—  at  Venice,  i.  149 

—  Eeturns  to  England,  i.  1 88 

—  re-engaged  at  Royal  Institution,!.  189 

—  his  earliest  lectures,  i.  191 

—  description  of    him    in    '  Quarterly 
Night,'  i.  201 

—  his  first  paper  on  native  caustic  lime, 
i.  202 

—  his  occupations,  i.  204 

—  his  method  of  forming  his  papers,  i. 
207 

— -  at  South  Moulton,  i.  209 

—  his  lecture  on  the  means  of  obtain- 
ing knowledge,  i.  209-211 

—  on  carbon,  i.  212 

—  on  the  metals  generally,  i.  222,  225 

—  his  notes  in  his  common-place  book, 
i.  221,  244 

—  on  the  inertia  of  the  mind,  i.  221, 
230  et  seq. 

—  his  study  of  oratory,  i.  221 


484 


INDEX. 


Faraday,  Michael — continued 

—  his  correspondence  with  M.  G.  de  la 
Rive,  i.  222.     See  Letters 

—  on  alkalies  and  earths,  i.  226 

—  lecture  on  the  forms  of  matter,  i. 
250 

—  journal  of  his  walking  tour  in  Wales, 

i.  251  et  seq. 

—  his  higher  scientific  education  at  the 
.Royal  Institution,  i.  276 

—  investigation  on  the  alloys  of  steel, 
i.  287-297,  320 

—  engaged    to   Miss    Sarah  Barnard, 
i.  278 

—  married,  i.  285 

—  discovers  electro-magnetic   rotation, 
i.  299,  305 

—  makes  his  profession  of  faith,  i.  297 

—  charged  with  dishonest  conduct  to 
Dr.  Wollaston,  i.  299-305 

—  Wollaston's  letter  to  him,  i.  305 

—  contradiction  of  the  charge,  i.  304 

—  proposed  as  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society,  i.  334 

—  his  historical  statements  respecting 
electro-magnetic  rotation,  i.  310 

—  elected  a  F.R.S.,  i.  353,  379,  380 

—  his  papers  in  1821,  i.  354 

—  his  visit  to  Mr.  Vivian's,  near  Swan- 
sea, i.  326 

—  his    'Chemical   Notes,  Hints,   Sug- 
gestions, and  Objects  of  Pursuit,'  i. 
320 

—  his  papers   in    the    '  Philosophical 
Transactions'  on  fluid  chlorine,  and 
on  the  condensation  of  several  gases 
into  liquids,  i.  330 

—  injured  by  an  explosion,  i.  334 

—  Sir  H.   Davy's  jealousy  of  him,  i. 
345-347 

—  Davy's  opposition  to  his  election  to 
the  Royal  Society,  i.  339,  340 

—  secretary  to  the  Athenaeum  Club,  i. 
340 

—  his     experiments    on     carbon    and 
hydrogen,  and  on  products  obtained 
by  the  decomposition  of  oil  by  heat, 
i.  342 

—  appointed  Director  of  the  Laboratory 
at  the  Royal  Institution,  i.  346 

—  visits  Scotland,  i.  347 

—  at  Brighton,  i.  349 

—  his  papers  in  1826,  i.  350 

—  his  '  Chemical  Manipulation,'  i.  351 

—  experiments     on    the    diffusion    of 
gases,  i.  330,  352 

—  his  lectures  on  chemical  philosophy, 
i.  353 


FAB 
Faraday,  Michael — continued 

—  his  lectures  on  chemical  manipulation, 
i.  354 

—  his  lectures  on  chemistry  adapted  to 
juvenile  audience,  i.  356 

—  his  lectures  on  the  operations  of  the 
laboratory,  and  on  other  subjects,  i. 
357 

—  gives   the  Bakerian  lecture  on   the 
manufacture  of  glass  for  optical  pur- 
poses, i.  358,  373 

—  his  letter  to  Dr.  Roget  on  the  same 
subject,  i.  360 

—  his  lectures  on  chemical  philosophy, 
i.  361 

—  his  titles  and  appointments,  i.  363  ; 
ii.  17,  49,  51,  70,  89,  105,  127,  164, 
183,   205,  226,   240,  263,  287,   352, 
368,  389,  399,  449 

—  declines  the  appointment  of  Professor 
of  Chemistry  in  University  College, 

—  becomes  lecturer  at  the  Royal  Aca- 
demy at  Woolwich,  i.  367 

—  Miss  Reid's  recollections  of  him,  i. 
378 

—  summary  of  his  labours  to  1830,  i. 
384 

—  first  period  of  his  electrical  researches, 
ii.  1 

—  his  investigation  of  fluorine,  ii.  35, 
67 

—  his   lectures   on   domestic   chemical 
philosophy,  ii.  46 

—  and  on  the  material  relation  of  elec- 
trical and  chemical  phenomena,  ii. 
47 

—  collects  his  papers,  notes,  &c.,  ii.  55 

—  pension  from  the  Prime  Minister,  ii. 
56-63,  116 

—  his  tour  in  Switzerland,  1i.  64 

—  his    experiments   on   some   metals, 
ii.  68 

—  scientificadviserto  the  Trinity  House, 
ii.  76,  90 

—  his  further   electrical  researches,  ii. 
80-84,  86,  87 

—  his  photometer,  ii.  87 

—  his  report  on  the  effects  of  the  Lon- 
don atmosphere  on  the  cartoons,  ii. 
88 

—  his  sensitiveness  as  to  his  brother, 
ii.  90. 

—  his  letter  on  accepting  the  Trinity 
House  work,  ii.  90 

—  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Asso- 
ciation, ii.  94 

—  list  of  his  titles  and  works,  ii.  98 


INDEX. 


485 


FOR 


Faraday,  Michael—  con  tinmd 

—  elected  an  elder  of  the  Sandemanian 
church,  ii.  99 

—  his  sermons,  ii.  100,  101 

—  table  of  work  he  had  given  up,  ii. 

112 

—  his  rest  from  loss  of  memory  and 
giddiness,  ii.  126 

—  his   system   of  ventilation  of  light- 
houses, ii.  127,  163 

—  Mr.  J.  Lowell's  offer  to  go  to  America, 
ii.  127 

—  his  Swiss  journal,  ii.  127  et  seg. 

—  his  notes  of  the  Haswell  colliery  ac- 
cident, ii.  180 

—  his  latter  period  of  electrical  research, 
ii.  193 

—  his  letters  during  his  later  researches, 

ii.  200  —  his  remarks  on  a  storm  at  Hampton 

—  his  discovery  of  the  identity  of  the  ii.  432 


Faraday,  Michael— continued 

—  receives  the  cross  of  Commander  of 
the  Legion  of  Honour,  ii.  352 

—  his  letter  on  the  state  of  the  Thames 
ii.  358 

—  on  lines  of  force  ;  and  on  paramag- 
netic and  diamagnetic  force,  ii.  360 

—  his  residence  at  Hampton  Court,  ii. 
366,  398 

—  on  conservation  of  force,  ii.  378 

—  his  thoughts  on  gravity,  ii.  406 

—  refuses  to  publish  his  juvenile  lec- 
tures on  metals,  ii.  417 

—  subscribes  to  a  memorial  to  Hum- 
boldt,  ii.  420 

—  his  opinion  on  the  Revivals,  ii.  426 

—  on  the  means  of  preserving  stone- 
work, ii.  430 


imponderable  agents,  light,  heat,  and 
electricity,  ii.  194-205,  222 

—  his  tour  in  France  in  1845,  ii.  210- 
217 

—  his  lectures  on  physico-chemical  phi- 
losophy, ii.  223 

—  his  investigations  on  the  actions  of 
crystals,  ii.  233-235 

—  his  lectures  on  static  electricity,  ii. 
237 

—  receives  a  severe  shock  from  the  Ley- 
den  battery,  ii.  238 

—  lecture,  to  Prince  Albert,  ii.  239] 

—  his  papers  in  1850,  ii.  247 

—  his  letters  to  Schonbein  on  ozone,  ii. 
257-263 

—  his   speculations   on   the   nature   of 
matter  and  lines  of  force,  ii.  272,  295 

—  his  views  of  the  way  in  which  che- 
mistry should  be  taught,  ii.  285 

—  obtains   a    rock    crystal    from    the 
British  Museum  for  experiments,  ii. 
296 

—  on  table-moving,  ii.  300 

—  on  voltaic  electricity,  ii.  304 

—  his  thoughts  on  scientific  controversy, 
ii.  314 

—  on  submarine  telegraphs,  ii.  319 

—  his  lecture  on  deficiency  of  judgment, 
ii.  320 

—  on  the  production  of  induction  cur- 
rents in  liquids,  ii.  323,   325,   330 

—  his  suggestions  for  the  improvement 
of  the  position  of  science,  ii.  331 

—  on  the  Queen's  yacht,  ii.  336 

—  his  failing  powers,  ii.  339,  355 

—  conclusion  of  his  researches  in  elec- 
tricity, ii.  343 


—  resigns  his  juvenile  lectures,  ii.  438 

—  his     last    experimental    research, 
ii.  444 

—  review  of  his  lectures,  ii.  445 

—  asks  the  Prince  of  Wales  to  become 
Vice-Patron   of  the   Institution,  ii. 
457 

—  his  answer  to  the  Messrs.  Davenport, 
ii.  462 

—  his  last  report  for  the  Trinity  House, 
ii.  465 

—  resigns  his  posts  in  the  institution, 
ii.  467 

—  his  death,  ii.  475 

—  his  funeral,  ii,  476 

—  his  characteristics,  ii.  477 

—  his  tomb,  ii.  479 

Faraday,  Mrs.  (Faraday's  mother),  i, 
6-8.  Letters  to.  See  Letters 

Faraday,  Mrs.  (Faraday's  wife),  her 
letter  to  Mr.  Magrath,  ii.  153.  Let- 
ters to.  See  Letters 

Faraday,  Thomas  Armat  (Faraday's 
cousin),  i.  6 

Faraday,  William  (Faraday's  uncle),  i. 
3,  4 

Fecamp,  lighthouse  of,  ii.  210 

Ffaraday,  Richard,  i.  1 

Fireflies,  i.  116. 

Flame,  Sir  H.  Davy's  experiments  on.  i. 
217.  Diamagnetic  condition  of,  ii. 
221 

Florence,  visit  to,  i.  108 

Fluorine,  lecture  on,  i.  197 

Fluorine,  Faraday's  investigation  of,  ii. 
35,  67,  68 

Fontainebleau,  forest  of,  in  frost,  i.  93 

Forbes,  Prof.,  o"  the  Alps.  ii.  1.56 


486 


INDEX. 


FOR 

Force,  lines  of  magnetic,  Faraday's  spe- 
culations as  to,  ii.  273,  294,  295,  322, 
361 

Force,  conservation  of,  lecture  on,  ii. 
378,  379 

Forces,  Faraday  on  the  correlation  of 
physical,  ii.  47 

Fordyce,  Anne,  i.  3 

Fox,  Miss,  ii.  58,  63 

Fox,  Lady  Mary,  ii.  117.      See  Letters 

France,  Faraday's  impressions  of,  i.  132, 
133 

Franklin,  Captain  (afterwardsSirJohn), 
i.  345 

Frost,  John,  ii.  9 

Fullerian  professorship,  ii.  50 

Funeral  at  Rome,  i.  169 

Furca  Pass,  ii.  155 


GALILEO'S  first  telescope,  i.  108 
Galvanic  battery,  Faraday's  first, 
i.  17  et  sea. 

Garcia,  Sig.,  i.  377 

Gas  prepared  from  fish  oil,  i.  249 

Gases,  Faraday  on  the  passage  of  gases 
through  tubes,  i.  274.  On  the  con- 
densation of,  into  liquids,  i.  332,  333. 
Experiments  on  the  diffusion  of,  352. 
His  later  experiments  on  the  con- 
densation of,  ii.  173.  And  liquefac- 
tion of,  193,  199.  Papers  on  the  mag- 
netic state  of,  249 

Gassiot,  Mr.,  ii.  397 

Gay-Lussac,  M.,  his  lectures,  i.  90.  His 
paper  on  iodine,  1 78 

Geneva,  visit  to,  i.  130 

Genoa,  visit  to,  i.  105 

Giessback,  the,  ii.  150 

Glas,  John,  i.  5 

Glasites,  some  of  their  peculiar  opinions, 
i.  4 

Glass,  optical,  experiments  on,  i.  346, 
347.  Faraday's  lecture  on,  358.  His 
letter  to  Dr.  Roget  on,  360 

Glentarec  Falls,  i.  255 

Glow-worms,  i.  83,  130 

Gold-leaf,  transparency  of,  i.  194 

Graham,  Professor,  ii.  94 

Gravity,  possible  relation  of  electricity 
to,  ii.  247.  Correspondence  on,  347- 
352.  Faradty's  thoughts  on,  406 

Green,  Mr.  Joseph  Henry,  his  letter  to 
Faraday,  ii.  178 

Grenelle,  well  of,  ii.  219 

Grindelwald,  the,  ii.  148 

Grove,  Mr.  W.  R.,  ii.  171.  Faraday's 
letter  to.  See  Letters 


Gun  cotton,  ii.  232 

Gymnotus    electricus,   experiments    on 
the,  ii.  84 


HACHETTE,  M.,  his  letter  to  Fara- 
day.    See  Letters 
Hare,  Dr.,  of  Pennsylvania,  ii.  66.     His 

objections   to  Faraday's   theories  on 

static    induction,    106.      Letter    to. 

See  Letters 

!    Haslithal,  the,  ii.  154 
!    Hastwell,  Margaret  (Faraday's  mother), 

i.  6 

Haswell  colliery  accident,  ii.  180 
Havre,  visit  to,  ii.  213 
Heve,   Cap   de    la,   lighthouse    of,   ii. 

215 
Heat,  Melloni's  experiments  on  radiant, 

ii.  69,  70.     Action  of  heat  as  regards 

its  influence  on  the  magnetism  of  iron, 

85.     Lectures  on   the  philosophy  of 

heat,  85,  174 
Hoilbron,  ii.  158 
Hennel,  Mr.,  i.  373 
Herschel,  Mr.  (now  Sir  John),  i.  346  ; 

ii.  13.     On  the  phenomena  of  light, 

ii.  201.     See  Letters 
Holland,  Dr.  (now  Sir  H.),  ii.  61.     See 

Letters 
Holmes,     Prof.,    his    electro-magnetic 

light,  ii.  413 

Home,  Mr.,  the  spiritualist,  ii.  441 
Hospenthal.  the,  ii.  155,  156 
Hotel  at  Morlaix,  i.  80 
Hullmandel,  conversaziones  and  suppers 

at  his  house,  i.  377.      Lecture  on  his 

lithographic  printing,  ii.  161 
Humboldt,  Baron,  his  letter  to  Faraday, 

ii.  53 
Huxtable,  Mr.,  i.  13.     Letters  to.     See 

Letters 
Hydrogen,  lecture  on,   i.  198.     Bicar- 

buret  of,  or  Benzine,  i.  342 


ICE,  non-conduction  of,  ii.  24 
Interlaken,  ii.  145 

Iodine,  discovery  of  by  Courtois,  i.  87. 
Sir  H.  Davy's  experiments  on,    89, 
92,  95,  109,  142,  196 
I   —  Experiments  on  a  compound  of  iodine 

and  oxygen,  i.  169,  172,  178 
—  Faraday's  lecture  on,  i.  197 
i    Iron,  meteoric,  analysis  of,  i.  295 
Italy,  Faraday's  impressions  of,  and  of 
Italians,  i.  134 


INDEX. 


487 


JAC 

TACK-BOOTS,  French,  i.  81 
tl      Jacob's  Well  Mews,  Faraday  at,  i.  7 
Jenkin,  Mr.,  his  electrical  experiments 

ii.  44,  45 

July  fetes  in  Paris,  ii.  218 
Jungfrau,  the,  ii.  144,  147 


KANDERSTAG,  ii.  134 
Kettle,  lecture  on  a,  ii.  46.     Notes 
for  a  lecture  on,  124 
Knoblauch,  Professor,  his  investigation's 

on  the  action  of  crystals,  ii.  235 
Knowledge,    i.     151.      Lecture   on   the 
means  of  obtaining,  i.  209-211 


TABORATORY,    Faraday's    lectures 
J-J    on  the  operations  of  the,  i.  357 
Ladies  riding  in  Italy,  i.  147 
Lamp-burners,   ventilation  of,  ii.   163 
Landseer,  i.  378 
Laponte,  M.  Henry,  ii.  217.     Visit  to 

his  workshops,  218 
Lardner,  Dr.,  letter  to.     See  Letters 
Lectures  and  lecturers,  Faraday  on,   i. 

58  ;  ii.  222,  445.     His  mode  of  mak- 
ing notes  for,  ii.  46 
Letters  from  Faraday  to — 

Abbott,  Mr.  Benjamin,  i.  16,  21,  25, 
27,  29,  34,  35,  36,  40.  52,  53,  55, 
58,  62,  64,  68,  137,  150,  161,  176, 
203,  204,  205,  215,  218,  219,  220, 
247,  274,  319 

Abbott,  Mr.  R.  G.,  i.  131,  171 

Auckland,  Lord,  ii.  228 

Barlow,  Rev.  J.,  ii.  2 13,  350,  375,  421 

Barlow,  Mrs.,  ii.  450. 

Barnard,  Mr.  E.,  i.  369 

Barnard.  Miss  Jane,  i.  286  ;  ii.  143 

Barnard,  Miss  S.,  i.  278-281 

Becker,  Dr..  ii.  393,  394,  433 

Bell,  Mr.  B.,  ii.  64 

Bequerel,  M.,  ii.  264,  287 

Booth,  Dr.,  ii.  93 

Brande,  Professor,  ii.  306 

Brodie,  Mr.  B.  C.,  ii.  246 

Brown,  Dr.  S.  M.,  ii.  170 

Carpenter,  Dr.,  ii.  459 

Christie,  Rev.  W.  H.  M.,  ii.  464 

Clarke,  Sir  James,  ii.  457 

Clerk,  Maxwell,  Mr.,  ii.  385 

Cole,  Mr.  H.,  and  Mr.  Faraday,  ii.  460 

Davenport,  Messrs.,  ii.  461 

Deacon,  Mrs.,  ii.  312,  423 

De  la  Rive,  M.  G.,  i.  248,  288,  291, 
315,  318,  331 


Letters  from  Faraday  to— continued 

De  la  Rive,  M.  Auguste,  ii.  107,  186 
206,  252,  309,  317,  322,  325,  330* 
339,  370,  395 

Deuman,  Hon.  Captain,  ii.  336 

Drummond,  Colonel,  i.  367 

Ellis,  Sir  Henry,  ii.  298 

Faraday,  Margaret,  i.  155,  349 

Faraday,  Mrs.  (his  mother),  i.  91, 
113,130,  134,  148,  173,  187,218 

Faraday,  Mrs.  (Faraday's  wife)  i 
323-330.  347;  ii.  95,  244  449 
452,  453 

Faraday,  Robert  (Faraday's  brother) 
ii.  163 

Fox,   Lady  Mary,  ii.    63,   117 

Fox,  Miss,  ii.  121,  122 

Gay-Lussac,  ii.  18-20 

Grove,  Mr.  W.  R.,  ii.  171,  243 

Hamilton,  Capt.,  ii.  230 

Hare,  Dr.,  ii.  106 

Holland,  Lord,  ii.  118 

Holzmann,  Dr.,  ii.  458 

Huxtable,  Mr.,  i.  13,  44,  175,  334: 
ii.  206 

Jones,  Dr.  Bence,  ii.  469,  474 

Jones,  Rev.  Edward,  ii.  381,  385 

Lady,  a,  ii.  188 

Lardner,  Dr.,  i.  364 

Magrath,  Mr.,  i.  372;  ii.  64,  153 

Marcet,  Mrs.,  ii.  204 

Martineau,  Miss,  ii.  269 

Matteucci,    Sig.   C.,   ii.    55,  92,  172 

231,245,  314,  360,  377 
Melbourne,  Lord,  ii.  57,  60,  121 
Moore,  Miss,  ii.  443,  454,  459 
Niece,  a,  ii.  461 

Northumberland,  Duke  of,  ii.  400,  440 
Painter,  a,  ii.  401 
Paris,  Count  de,  ii.  471 
Paris,  Dr.,  i.  47 
Percy,  Dr.,  ii.  245,  390 
Phillips,  Mr.  J.,  ii.  88 
Phillips,  Mr.  R.,  i.  335 ;  ii.  6 
Phillips,  Professor,  ii.  420 
Phinn,  Thomas,  M.P.,  ii.  359 
Phipps,  Sir  C.,  ii.  395 
Portlock,  General,  ii.  284 
Raymond,  Dr.  du  Bois,  ii.  267 

M ,Dr.,  ii.  317 

Reid,  Miss,  ii.  392,  453 
Rice,  Mr.  Spring,  ii.  97 
Roget,  Dr.,  i.  360 

Royal  Institution,  Managers  of  the, 
ii.  467 

S ,  Mr.  Thomas,  ii.  462,  463 

Schonbein,  Professor,  ii.  231,  257- 
263,  281-284,  292,  302,  334,341, 


488 


INDEX. 


LET 


Letters  from  Faraday  to — continued 
355,  364,  369,  371,  372,  376,  403, 
405,  422,  433,  450 

Sister,  his  eldest,  i.  153 

Sister,  his  younger,  i.  155 

South,  Sir  James,  ii.  469 

Stodart,  Mr.,  i.  300 

Stroud,  Mr.,  ii.  436 

Trinity  House  secretary,  ii.  416 

Tynda'll,  Professor,  ii.  270,  289,  291, 
342,  402,  421 

Wales,  Prince  of,  ii.  456 

Warburton,  i.  308,  312 

Wheatstone,  Mr.  (now  Sir  C.),  ii.  104, 
209 

Wollaston,  Dr.,  i.  303 

Wrottesley,  Lord,  ii.  331 
Letters  to  Faraday  from — 

Agassiz,  M.  L.,  ii.  373 

Alfred,  Prince,  ii.  369 

Auckland,  Lord,  ii.  230 

Brande,  Mr.,  ii.  109 

Davy,  Sir  H.,  i.  48,  250,  275,  285, 
287 

Daubeny,  Dr.,  ii.  49 

De  la  Rive,  A.,  ii.  311 

Dumas,  M.,  ii.  240 

Edgeworth,  Miss,  ii.  185 

Fox,  Miss,  ii.  123     . 

Green,  Joseph  Henry,  ii.  178 

Grey,  Hon.  Col.,  ii.  252 

Hachette,  M.,  i.  374;  ii.  51 

Hansteen,  ii.  389 

Herschel,  Sir  John,  ii.  199,  220 

Holland,  Dr.  (now  Sir  H.),  ii.  1 18, 119 

Humboldt,  Baron,  ii.  53,  70, 183 

Liebig,  Professor,  ii.  184 

Louis  Napoleon,  Prince,  ii.  165,  166, 
168,  169 

Martineau,  ii.  270 

Mayo,  Dr.,  ii.  176 

Melbourne.  Lord,  ii.  59,  122 

Melloni,  M.,  ii.  73 

Oersted,  Prof.,  ii.  164,  242,  268 

Pliicker,  M.,  ii.  371 

Quetelet,  M.,  ii.  263 

Reiss,  Prof.,  ii.  345 

Rice,  Mr.  Spring,  ii.  96 

Somerrille,  Mrs.,  ii.  418 

Thomson,  Wm.  (now  Sir  W.),  ii.  374 

Wales,  Prince  of,  ii.  369 

Warburton,  Mr.,  i.  311 

Wollaston,  Dr.,  i.  305 
Leuk,  baths  of,  ii.  135  ;  the  bathers,  136 
Liebig,  Professor,  his  letters  to  Faraday. 

See  Letters 
Light,  i.  195.  Faraday's  search  after  the 

discovery  of  the  relation  of  electricity 


and  magnetism  to,  322.  Faraday's  ex- 
periments on  a  polarised  ray  of  light, 
ii.  29.  Faraday's  researches  on,  ii. 
194-205,  222,  296.  Sir  J.  Herschel 
on,  201.  Dr.  Whewell  on,  204. 

Lighthouses,  experiments  on  lights  for, 
ii.  87,  105.  Faraday's  report  on  diop- 
tric arrangements  for,  105.  His  system 
of  ventilation  of,  127,  162.  French 
and  English  lights  in  the  Channel, 
220.  On  electric  lights  for,  ii.  295, 
331,  366,  388,  399,  413,  428,  437, 
447,  450,  451 

Lightning-rods,  lecture  on,  ii.  161 

Lime,  native  caustic,  on,  Faraday's  first 
paper,  i.  202 

Lithographic  printing,  principles  and 
practice  of,  ii.  161 

Llangollen,  visit  to,  i.  264 

Louis  Napoleon,  Prince,  his  letters  to 
Faraday  and  Arago.ii.  165,  166, 169, 
170.  When  Emperor,  confers  the 
Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honour  on 
Faraday,  352 

Louvre,  the,  i.  85 

Lyell,  Mr.  (now  Sir  C.),  ii.  180.  His 
report  on  the  Haswell  Colliery  acci- 
dent, 182 

MACHYNLETH,  i.  256 
Magne-crystallic  force,  Faraday's 
researches  on,  ii.  275 

Magnesium,  chloride  of,  conduction  and 
non-conduction  of,  when  solid  and 
fluid,  ii.  26 

Magnetism,  Signer  Morrichini's  experi- 
ment on,  i.  118.  Lectures  on,  ii.  47. 
Its  connection  with  light,  194,  200, 
222.  Greatness  of  Faraday's  dis- 
covery of  magneto-electricity,  280. 
Correspondence  on  magnetic  lines  of 
force,  347,  349,  352 

Magnus,  Prof.,  ii.  268 

Magrath,  Mr.,  i.  51,  341  ;  ii.  115. 
Letters  to.  See  Letters 

Malibran,  Madame,  i.  377 

Manheim,  ii.  158 

Mantua,  visit  to,  i.  186 

Marcet,  Dr.,  i.  331 

Marcet,  Mrs., biography  of,  ii.  396.  Her 
works,  396.  See  Letters 

Martineau,  Miss,  her  correspondence 
with  Faraday.  See  Letters 

Masquerier,  Mr.,  teaches  Faraday  per- 
spective, i.  12 

Matter,  general  properties  of,  lecture 
on,  i.  192 


IXDEX. 


489 


Matter,  radiant,  lecture  on,  i.  193.  Lec- 
ture on  the  forms  of,  250,  265.  Specu- 
lations on  the  nature  of,  ii.  173,  272. 
Lectures  on  the  forces  of,  ii.  280 

Matteucci,  Sig.  C.,  Faraday's  letter  to, 
ii.  55.  Letters  to.  See  Letters 

Mayo,  Dr.,  his  letter  to  Faraday,  ii.  176 

Melbourne,  Lord,  Faraday's  letter  to, 
ii.  57 

Melincourt,  •waterfall  of,  i.  255 

Melloni,  his  discoveries  on  radiant  heat, 
ii.  69,  70.  His  letters  to  Faraday, 
73,  75 

Mental  Education,  Faraday's  lecture  on, 
i.  298 

Metals,  smells  given  off  by  rubbing 
some,  i.  27.  Lectures  on  the,  i.  222, 
224,  225.  Experiments  on  the  effect 
of  low  temperature  on  some,  ii.  68. 
Lectures  on  the  physical  and  chemical 
properties  of  some,  68.  General 
magnetic  relations  of  and  characters 
of  the  metals,  ii.  85.  Lectures  on, 
200.  Faraday's  juvenile  lectures  on 
the  properties  of,  399 

Mind,  inertia  of  the,  lecture  on  the,  i. 
230  et  seq. 

Mohl,  Professor,  his  letter  to  Faraday, 
ii.  52 

Molecular  mot  ion,  Faraday's  lecture  on, 
i.  362 

Montpellier,  i.  95 

Morlaix,  i.  77  ;  Douaniers  at,  78  et  seq. 

Morrichini,  Signor,  his  experiments  on 
magnetism,  i.  118 

Moselle,  the,  ii.  159 

Moulins,  i.  94 

JYToutiers,  ii.  130 

Miinsterthal,  ii.  130 

Muriatic  acid,  Davy's  theory  of,   i.  28, 


VTAPOLEON  I.,  in  1813,  i.  92.     His 

JLi     escape  from  Elba,  i.  179 

Napoleon  III.  See  Louis  Napoleon 

Neath,  visit  to,  i.  252 

Newman,  Mr.,  i.  137 

Newton,  Sir  I.,  on  gravity,  quoted,  ii.  78 

Nickel,  an  alloy  with  steel,  i.  295.  Quan- 
tity of,  in  meteoric  iron,  29.5 

Nitre,  conduction  and  non-conduction  of, 
when  solid  and  fluid,  ii.  24 

Nitrogen,  uncondensable,  ii.  187 

Nobili,  M.,  his  experiments,  ii.  17,  18. 
Faraday's  notes  on  his  experiments,  49 

Northumberland,  Duke  of,  wishes  to 
resign  the  Presidentship  of  the  Royal 
Institution,  ii.  400.  See  Letters 

VOL.  II.  K 


QUA 

OBEKHOFEN,  ii.  133 
Oersted,  Prof.,  as  a  manipulator 
ii.  395 

Oeschinen,  Lake,  ii.  134 

Oils,  experiments  on,  i.  290 

Optical  deceptions,  Faraday's  paper  on, 
ii.  16.  His  lectures  on,  1 6 

Oxalamide,  discovery  of,  ii.  16.  Fara- 
day's discourse  on,  16 

Oxygen,  i.  35.  Lecture  on,  197.  Uncon- 
densable, ii.  187.  Faraday's  estimate 
of  the  paramagnetic  force  in,  ii.  250, 
256,  264.  On  the  magnetic  charac- 
ters and  relation  of  oxygen  and  nitro- 
gen, 280,  288,  290 

Ozone,  ii.  191.  Faraday's  letters  to 
Schonbein  on,  ii.  257-263,  281-284. 
293,  303,  403,  405,  423 


PAINTERS,    Faraday's     advice     to, 
JL    i.  378 

Papyroplastics,  ii.  114 

Paris,  Faraday's  first  visit  to,  i.  84.  The 
July  fetes  at,  ii.  218 

Parisians,  the,  i.  92 

Pens,  manufacture  of  steel,  ii.  69 

Percy,  Dr.,  ii.  245.     See  Letters 

Phillips,  Richard,  i.  320,  334.  A  can- 
didate for  the  chair  of  chemistry  at 
University  College,  ii.  93.  See  Letters 

Photometer,  Faraday's,  ii.  87 

Pietra  Mala,  visit  to,  i.  143.  Experi- 
ments on  the  gas  of,  144 

Pigs  in  France,  i.  83 

Pius  VII.,  Pope,  set  at  liberty,  i.  95 

Platinum,  powerful  affinity  of,  for  iron 
and  other  metals,  i.  294 

Plinlimmon,  i.  256 

Pliicker,  Professor,  his  discoveries, 
ii.  233 

Plumbago,  artificial,  i.  292 

Polarisation  of  crystals,  experiments  on, 
i.  343 

Polytechnique,  L'Ecole,  visit  to  the,  i.  90 

Portable  Gas  Company,  i.  342 

Postilion,  a  French,  i.  81 

Potassium,  Davy's  discovery  of,  i.  190 

Putrefaction  and  decay,  ii.  104 


QUARTERLY  Journal  of  Science,' 
Faraday's  papers  in  the,  i.  202. 
246,  272,  287,  314,  330,   342,   350, 
351 ;  ii.  2 


490 


INDEX. 


EAFFAELLFS    cartoons,    probable 
effect  of  the  London  atmosphere  on 
the,  ii.  88 

Raymond,  Dr.  du  Bois,  letter  to.  See 
Letters 

Reid,  Miss,  her  recollections  of  Faraday, 
i.  378;  ii.  112.  Her  account  of  her 
uncle's  declining  life,  474.  See  Letters 

Reips,  Prof.,  his  letter  to  Faraday,  ii. 
346. 

Respiration,  organs  of,  Faraday's  paper 
on  the,  ii.  49 

Revivals,  Faraday's  remarks  on  the,  ii.    | 
426 

Rhodium  alloy  with  steel,  i.  287 

Rice,  Mr.  Spring,  letter  to.     See  Letters 

Riebau,  Mr.  George,  i.  10.  Faraday  ap- 
prenticed to  him,  11 

Roche,  Mr.  De  la,  Faraday's  work- 
master,  i.  39,  131 

Roget,  Dr.,  Faraday's  letter  to,  on  opti- 
cal glass,  i.  360 

Rome,  visits  to,  f.  113,  147  178,  185. 
Punishment  for  insolence  to  the  mili- 
tary at,  147.  Christmas  at,  153 

Rouen,  visit  to,  ii.  216 

Royal  Institution,  i.  137,  153;  ii.  50 

Rubislaw,  visit  to,  i.  347 


QAFETY-LAMP,  DavyXi.    190.    Fa- 
kj     raday's  notes  on  the,  i.  213.     His 

lecture  on  the,  402 
Sandeman,  Robert,  i.  5 
Sandemanians,  i.  4,  6 
Saturn,  the  planet,  i.  36 
Schaffhausen,  falls  of,  ii.  157 
Schonbein,   Faraday's  letters  to.      See 

Letters 

Sea,  luminousness  of  the,  i.  76 
Sermons,  Faraday's,  ii.  99,  101 
Shoeblack,  a  Paris,  i.  93 
Silver,  sulphuret  of,  electrical  experi- 
ment with,  ii.  25,  26 
Silver,  volatilisation   of,   i.    296.      An 

alloy  with  steel,  294 
Simmenthal,  ii.  132 
Slate  quarries  near  Bangor,  i.  262 
Somerville,  Mrs.,  her  letter  to  Faraday, 

ii.  418 

Somma,  Monte,  ascent  of,  i.  179 
Sound,  lecture  on  the  reciprocation  of, 

i.  358.    Lecture  on  reciprocal,  363 
South,  Sir  James,  ii.  56,  57,  116,  470, 

471 

Speculation,  warning  against,  ii.  175 
Staubach,  the,  ii.  145 
St.  Bernard  pass,  the,  ii.  155 


Steam,  electricity  evolved  by  Faraday's 
researches  on,  ii.  160,  161 

Steel,  alloys  of,  investigation  on  the,  i. 
287,  291-296 

Steinheil's  apparatus,  ii.  449 

Stodart,  Mr.  James,  i.  287,  300.  Let- 
ters to.  See  Letters 

Stones,  building,  action  of  the  weather 
on,  i.  363 

Stonework,  preservation  of,  ii.  430 

Storm  on  Cader  Idris,  i.  259. 

Strasburg,  ii.  129 

Switzerland,  visit  to,  i.  135,  149.  Tour 
in,  ii.  127  etseq. 


rPABLE-MOVING,    Faraday's    letter 

1     on,  ii.  299,  301 

Tatum,  Mr.,  his  lectures,  i.  11,  45,  60 

Telescopes,  improvements  in,  i.  360 

Tende,  Col  de,  i.  96 

Terni,  visit  to,  i.  126.  Waterfall  of,  127 

Thames  Tunnel,  lecture  on  the,  i.  358 

Thun,  ii.  131  etseq. 

Torpedoes,  experiments  on,  i.  106 

Travelling,  remarks  on,  i.  140 

Trinity  House,  Faraday  scientific  ad- 
viser to  the,  ii.  76.  Work  done  by 
him  for  the,  87,  99.  End  of  Fara- 
day's work  for  the,  471 

Turin,  visit  to,  i.  103 

Turner,  the  painter,  Faraday's  admira- 
tion for  his  works,  i.  378. 

Tyndall,  Professor,  his  investigations  on 
the  action  of  crystals,  ii.  236.  Become* 
Professor  of  Physics  at  the  Royal 
Institution,  342.  His  ascent  of  Monte 
Rosa,  402.  Faraday's  correspondence 
with.  Sec  Letters 


T7APORISATION,    limits    of,   Fara- 
V    day's  paper  on,  ii.  16 
Velino  lake,  i.  126 
Vesuvius,  visits  to,  i.  120,  124,  180 
Vevay,  suspension -bridge  at,  ii.  66 
Vibrating  surfaces,  Faraday 's  paper  on, 

ii.  16 

Vicenza,  visit  to,  i.  142 
Volta,  M.,  at  Milan,  i.  130 
Voltaic  battery,  power  of  the,  ii.  237 
Voltaic  decomposition,  experiments  on, 

ii.  21 

TIT  ALES,  Faraday's  journal  of  a  walk- 
f  V    ing  tour  in,  i.  251  et  seq. 
Warburton,  Mr.,  letters   to  and  from 
See  Letters 


IXDEX. 


491 


Ward's  plan  of  growing  plants,  ii.  87 

Washing  in  Normandy,  ii.  211 

Water,  freezing,  certain  conditions  of, 
ii.  256 

Water-spouts  off  Genoa,  i.  107 

Watts,  Dr.  Isaac,  i.  1 1 

Way's  mercurial  electric  light,  ii.  417 

Wengern  Alp,  the,  ii.  146 

Wheatstone,  Mr.  (now  Sir  Charles), 
on  the  reciprocation  of  sound,  i.  358. 
Faraday's  Lecture  on,  363.  His  elec- 
tro-magnetic chronoscope,  ii.  222.  His 
electric  telegraph,  397 

Whewell,  Dr.,  on  the  relation  of  light 
to  magnetism,  ii.  204 


ZUR 


Wilde,  Mr.,  his  magneto-electric  in- 
duction machine,  ii.  473 

Wollaston,  Dr.,  electro-magnetic  rota- 
tion, i.  '299-305,  31 1.  Letters  to  and 
from.  See  Letters 


TACHT,  the  Queen's.  Faraday  on  the, 
ii.  336 


f7EM  ZEM,  account  of  the  water  of  the 
L     well,  ii.  68 
Zurich,  ii.  157 


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